A Costa Rican driving in Colorado

Have you ever seen a Costa Rican driver at the wheel?  We are great (most of us), and yes I totally include myself in that statement.  We believe most traffic laws should be followed by the masses and we consider them mere suggestions when we are behind the wheel.  


DH is known to flinch, cringe and tightly shut his eyes when I am driving and he is in the passenger seat.  More and more if we need to go somewhere together, unless he is heavily impaired (meaning if he had a limb broken or has been impaled) he is the one behind the wheel.  Mind you, this is the man who taught me how to drive and for a while I was in his opinion a "good" driver but then the Costa Rican indoctrination kicked in and there has been no going back.  What makes matters worse?  If I have recently been in Costa Rica and driving and return to Colorado and forget I have now left the "autopista" behind.


But something I really must concede about Costa Rican drivers is that when we are on the road we are totally having a conversation with each other and it becomes almost like a "flow of traffic" dance ~ even though sometimes someone might step on your foot in the form of a hasty brake.  


In Colorado I think many drivers are just rude and could give a rat's ass about the flow of traffic.  Take for example the dreaded left turn only lane/light.  Imagine this: it is rush hour, you are the third car in a left turn lane with it's own light.  The light turns green but the car at the front of the line is dilly-dallying and when they finally realize the light is green and go there is only enough time for an additional car to go - my reaction: UGH!!!!!  Now I am at the front of the line but it sucks that I have to wait longer to take my left turn simply because "rude" at the front didn't give a crap about everyone else.  In the meantime, traffic is backing up behind me because of "rude".  Now I on the other hand take it upon myself to be very attentive when I am at the front of the line and as soon as it turns green: go, go, go! to ensure that as many cars as possible (if they are on the ball as well - not if it includes a "rude" in there) can make the turn as well.  Is this Costa Rican madness?  Maybe.  But next time you are in a turn left lane and have a rude at the front of the line or you are at the front... think of a Costa Rican behind the wheel and maybe, just maybe... emulate (it's okay, I won't tell!).