Driving in Argentina

Driving here is quite difficult, one reason is because you have no idea who has the right of way at the cross roads. You have to live here and learn from others because there are not many signs and no other way of finding out. Every road has a cross road and most have many.

It’s the law to drive with your lights on but many cars don´t even have lights. Driving in the night you realize just how many. The roads are wide so with a quick glance each way I have managed to navigate my way through the town.

So after having battled and so far survived the traffic, I’ve come to conclude there are three types of cars:

1.Larga distancia – newish cars. Common brands are Renault, Peugeot, Fiat. Recently also VolksWagen and Toyota are popular.

2.Corta distancia – many old clunkers are clearly for only local drives to the supermarket, or the river. The old Ford falcons are good candidates.

3.Distancia questionable – there is an entire category of cars from which you don’t know if they will make it to the corner. And yet many make it across the country or even the Andes. But you’re really gambling and should be prepared for anything: doors falling off, no lights, engine overheating, death etc.