Driving in Naples

What I've learned so far is that driving in Naples is much like bumper cars as a kid. Remember when you would laugh so hard you almost peed yourself? O.K. well, maybe that was just me but here the bumper cars are much bigger and obviously a bit more dangerous. I don't mind too much as I have been accused from time to time of being a crazy driver myself. But this is a level beyond my imagination.

The horn and lights on an Italian car are used solely to move other cars out of the way. If I am in the left lane to pass a slow moving truck and a car better than my very used Fiat we bought second hand here comes behind me he will nearly push me past the truck to be ahead of me. It is most important when in a car for the Italians to be ahead of each other. The very obvious fact that they are not going anywhere more important than to the coffee shop to shoot the bull with the other crazy driver makes no difference.

The best part are those that pass on the right to make a left lane exit that is just dead ahead. Maybe they are out done by those on motor scooters who ride between, around and if they can - over cars in their way. Today a most fascinating site was the motorcycle passing a car coming toward me, smoking a cigarette and taking both hands off the handlebars to adjust his helmet - yes, while passing and smoking and in between me and the car he was passing. Somehow, they must survive or I presume someone would change the rules of the road.

Stop signs are suggestions - and what they suggest is that if you stop at them you will be rear-ended. Red lights are simply an opportunity to pass an unassuming tourist like me.

The pedestrians are something else altogether! While in their cars, Neapolitans are in such a rush while they are walking there is no rush at all. They, however, like their cars do not bother to look either way when they cross a street. It is the job of the crazy drivers to watch out for them as they will walk directly into the path of speeding cars.

So survival of the fittest is the name of the driving game here. I am eagerly awaiting my tank - the Mommy-mobile Pacifica that is en-route from the states - then I'll show those Fiats how it's done.