+ 12 - 7 | § ¶Death wish...Understanding Ukrainian Drivers.
Death Wish...trying to Understand Ukrainian Drivers...
First, you must understand - how would you drive if there were no rules, no "tickets" and only a $2 bribe to get out of any traffic violation? Plus, it only takes about 2 minutes of your time to move on from the cops, because they want money from the next guy...under that context...would you try to kill people on the road? Or...drive within the written rules?
I understand that there are NO LAWS in Ukraine - and I understand that cops are paid to make accidents the other person's fault now (which happened to me last week) - and I understand that people drive their personalities...but what I don't understand is these "dangerous/death wish" lessons that BAD drivers try to teach everyone on the road.
When I first started driving in Ukraine, I didn't know that you must move over in 0.2 seconds for the car that is driving fast behind you or they would go in the opposite, on-coming traffic lane and make a "fast swerve at you" to hit your car...and if you don't see it or understand it, you would get hit. Which is what happened to my friend John in his first week here - He has the dent in his car to prove the lesson. I, however, moved over and avoided the accident...twice my first week and now I will move even if it will only help the crazy person behind me get to the RED LIGHT one second before me.
The gentleman that hit John's car was quick to show him the GUN that he has right by the gear shifter...and told John to learn to move over at all times even in heavy traffic.
However, for some reason, when I bright people and want them to move over...they never do - guess I need to be driving a BMW with black windows to get respect...not quite sure.
But, what happened last night was the STUPIDEST THING I have ever experienced at the hand of Ukrainian drivers...
I was driving home from Chercassy at about 11 PM at night with Tanya (about 45 minutes from Kiev) and because it was a dark night and the road are sooooo bad, I use the Bright lights when no cars are coming. Sometimes, I forget I have my bright lights on here, because on my car, the lights are dim no matter what. Anyway, a car came over the hill and turned his bright lights on to show me that I had mine on, which I understand, but it took about 1-2 seconds to turn them off. Longer than I wanted but that's life. Anyway, THE ON COMING CAR KEPT HIS BRIGHT LIGHTS ON - WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A JERKY THING - SO I KEPT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ROAD THE BEST I COULD. THEN, I NOTICED AT THE LAST SECOND THAT HE WAS COMING OVER INTO MY LANE...STRAIGHT AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's right - to TEACH me a lesson for not turning my brights off in 0.5 seconds...he decided to KILL US ALL!!! He has swerved into almost 1/2 of my side of the road - I was going 110 kph, or about 65 MPH and I am sure he was doing the same. AT THE LAST SECOND, AND I MEAN, LAST SECOND - I SWERVED INTO THE GRAVEL, BUT MANAGED TO KEEP MY CAR ON THE ROAD AND SLOW DOWN. If for any reason I turned to look at Tanya, my radio, or even blinked...WE WOULD ALL MOST LIKELY BE DEAD OR SERIOUSLY INJURIED. He came directly at me, I was driving close the white line because the "gravel" or sides of the road in Ukraine are always bad.
I swerved so fast with my left arm that it got a
So, what could I do about this - there is no 911 here - there is no way to chase this guy down without making it a more dangerous situation and even I got his numbers...no cop in Ukraine would care...and I am very SERIOUS about that!
I don't mind...dying for Christ, or living to help others...but I seriously don't want to die because of some dumb driver trying to "teach lessons" on the road. To be honest, I don't like sharing bad stories about Ukraine because there are some good things here too - and some great people - but, I have never experience such complete ignorance from a Ukrainian driver before and personally want to rant in any way possible. Awh...revenge is sweet...not! Anyway, I do want to THANK YOU for your prayers...and ask that you keep it up! Tanya and I both agree that if GOD didn't PROTECT US...someone would probably telling another story about us...today.
So what say you?
+ 12 - 10 | § ¶video blogging...
If you miss Rick's Blog's...you should understand that HE has been blogging on www.myspace.com/missionsupport for a while...with serveral videos, mostly just fun and explaining life in Ukraine. Go there and enjoy, you might have to set up an account to see the videos that are not on the home/front page - but it is free and simple to do. Blessings to you!