jeremy wrote in
:

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

Snort! Ever drive in Italy? They don't believe in seatbelts. It means
you haven't got confidence in your driving and makes you more likely
to have an accident.
A quick peek at the cars going by there will reveal a huge percentage
of people not bothering with them. The further south you go the fewer
wear them. (Padanians, are, after all, wannabe germans) You can
nearly tell your lattitude by the percentage of non wearers. Same is
roughtly true for france and spain.

I drive all over the Northern hemisphere and usually get caught in
Europe by bad habits learned elsewhere. Turning on a red light always
catches me, as does the difference in traffic light sequence. I have
to watch myself after time in Panama, as after midnight traffic lights
are advisory only.

I have DLs for USA, and most of the EU and the test here is a joke.

The seatbelt issue is of no consequence to many cops in Italy, as they
consider it your funeral, but they will pop you for overtaking without
signaling.

Maybe in the north... I've driven a good bit in Italy and as far as I can
tell, th eonly rule is to keep your foot planted and beep a lot.
Hand signals take both hands, of course.
Hand free phones have freed up the italians to talk while driving of
course. Can't talk without your hands..


Bertie