traffic and pedestrian life
This is one of the worst problems in some Paulo. Personally, I was called to help an Alitalia crew member who was hit by a motorcycle 8 years ago on Avenida Paulista and suffered a severe injury on her foot that required surgery. Recently a Swiss crew member was also hit by a motorcycle who did not respect a red light at a pedestrian lane. Fortunately, she did not suffer a big injury.
It is sad to say but this is what life in Sao Paulo has taught me: there is a non told rule for the traffic: “the stronger one will win and no driver respects the law”
Translating: trucks have priority over buses which win the battle against cars which defeat motorcycles which run over bicycles which finally do not respect pedestrians. Yes, unfortunately, pedestrians are the weakest part and have to be extra careful for their own sake. This is totally different in Europe or the US so, the problem is that nobody expects this to happen.
Here go the golden rules to avoid accidents:
1- NEVER, never think cars will respect pedestrians. They simply do NOT, EVEN when you are on a pedestrian line!!!
2- at a red light, do NOT cross the street until ALL cars AND motorcycles have stopped to a complete stand still. Some fools think that the yellow light means you have to accelerate and some drivers do not care about red lights
3- pay extra attention whenever you have to cross any street, look on both sides of the street and NEVER EVER expect to see drivers and motorcycles respect you on the lane.
( a recent study indicates that 81% of brazilian population does not respect the law and in 2012, 45.000 people died on the road and half a million were severely injured. Source: http://www.vias-seguras.com/os_acidentes/estatisticas/estatisticas_nacionais)
JUST TO COMPARE, DURING ALL THE TIME OF VIETNAM WAR, APROXIMATIVELY 50.000 AMERICANS DIED
It is sad to say but this is what life in Sao Paulo has taught me: there is a non told rule for the traffic: “the stronger one will win and no driver respects the law”
Translating: trucks have priority over buses which win the battle against cars which defeat motorcycles which run over bicycles which finally do not respect pedestrians. Yes, unfortunately, pedestrians are the weakest part and have to be extra careful for their own sake. This is totally different in Europe or the US so, the problem is that nobody expects this to happen.
Here go the golden rules to avoid accidents:
1- NEVER, never think cars will respect pedestrians. They simply do NOT, EVEN when you are on a pedestrian line!!!
2- at a red light, do NOT cross the street until ALL cars AND motorcycles have stopped to a complete stand still. Some fools think that the yellow light means you have to accelerate and some drivers do not care about red lights
3- pay extra attention whenever you have to cross any street, look on both sides of the street and NEVER EVER expect to see drivers and motorcycles respect you on the lane.
( a recent study indicates that 81% of brazilian population does not respect the law and in 2012, 45.000 people died on the road and half a million were severely injured. Source: http://www.vias-seguras.com/os_acidentes/estatisticas/estatisticas_nacionais)
JUST TO COMPARE, DURING ALL THE TIME OF VIETNAM WAR, APROXIMATIVELY 50.000 AMERICANS DIED
