It Happens every Year

Here we go Again

There are some things you can set your watch by, and the annual exodus and returns from the city are one of those things. People just can’t wait to get out of their offices and to hit the road on their way to vacation-land. Personally, I cannot fault them for feeling like this. The first day of June, and July, and possibly the day or two before are the days for the mass exodus, and by mass I do mean just that. Millions of people stack themselves into little tin cans with wheels and head on out.

For the Traffic Department this must be their time of year for the greatest headaches. It is when over-crowding becomes very real. There are whole families all in one moving place thereby making the possibility of total disaster so much closer to happening. I have sworn that during these times I will not join in the madness. If I have to drive at all it will only be very short distances.

Coastal towns become besieged by people from the interior of the country, as well, people who live along one part of the coast decide they want to go to another, or that they want to go to their holiday homes with swimming pools inland.

These are supposed to be happy times. However, all to often families suffer disasters while in motion. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are some things that drivers can do to ensure that they will not be part of the unhappy statistics:

- Never drive when you are tired. Be sure that the night before you get a decent rest that will prepare you for the day ahead. Stop every two hours for a rest.
- Never, never, never drink alcohol and then take control of a vehicle. Forget custom, start a new trend and leave alcohol or drugs out of your consideration.
- Everybody has to wear a seatbelt. Remember, a toddler roaming around loose in the car will kill everybody through causing a distraction.
- Be super alert and attentive. Anticipate what might happen and prepare for it.
- Eat light meals along the way so that you are not made drowsy by heavy meals.
- As the driver, your judgement will make or break the holiday. Be a hero to your family and get them there and back safely.

My wish is that during this Summer there will be no fatal crashes. However, if I can’t have that wish, then at least there should be as few as possible.

Good Luck Everybody, and Happy Motoring!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Has Justice been Served?

I wrote last week about a case that was being processed through the courts. That case has now been concluded and a verdict and sentence have been delivered. The question is whether a reasonable man would consider that the result is satisfactory.

Summary:
A man and his female partner were driving when they suddenly came upon an accident scene where a cycle had collided with a car and the rider was down. Unfortunately, unavoidably, the newly arrived driver came into contact with the rider, actually driving the front wheels over the young man. At that point the car was stopped for a few seconds, and then the driver recommenced his forward motion. A part of the young man’s clothing became interlocked with the car, but nevertheless the defendant driver drove at speed dragging the young man for two kilometres. All throughout this ordeal the victim was alive.

When the driver reached the turn into his urbanisation he stopped the car, then he moved backwards and forwards until disengaging the victim. When the attachment broke he drove over the young man and continued on home leaving the young man to his own fate. It was shortly after this that the seventeen year-old drew his last breath.

Horrified eye- witnesses and cctv cameras recorded the chain of events, but the driver and his passenger denied that they had been involved in any way.

The court deemed that the actions of the driver were as cold bloodied as can be, and his passenger was found guilty of failing to take any discernible action to stop the driver and for doing nothing to assist the victim and the law.

The driver was fined 300,000 euros and sentenced to serve 13 years in jail. His partner was sentenced to serve eighteen months behind bars.

The test of whether justice has been fully served is to put yourself into the shoes of the boy’s mother and father. It may be that youthful incaution got him into trouble in the first place, as is the case with so many young men who consider that they are indestructible at that age. Even the unavoidable act of driving over him with the front wheels might be forgiven, as that was apparently completely an accident. However, to deliberately drive off meant to pass the rear wheels over the young man. In my opinion that is the act of a monster.

I am a person who avoids doing violence to other humans, so to be able to do something like this is outside my ability to comprehend. Most people are like that, especially because that was such an inhumane act.

To further continue driving when he knew without a doubt that he was dragging a human being at speed down the motorway beggars disbelief. I consider that to be nazi-like thinking. I won’t even entertain the suggestion that he must have been mad. What must the parents make of such disrespect to their son?

He has deliberately extinguished the life of another person with very malicious intent and with complete disregard to his victim’s right to life. The Court has considered that for his actions he should spend the next 13 years of his own life behind bars. After that, he can do as he wishes, but his victim will still be dead. My feeling is that anyone who commits the sort of crime as he has been found guilty of should expect to forfeit his own quality of life until he dies. The only encouraging thing in this case is that he is 57 years old, so he might indeed die in prison. Otherwise he should be 70 upon leaving prison. At that point his British license will expire and I doubt whether anyone will reissue him, so he will never drive again. However, that is just by luck as there was no mention of the loss of his driving permit.

In my opinion Justice has not been fully served, although the courts think differently. How that can be justified I just don’t know. Additionally his partner was only sentenced to serve 18 months because she failed in her civil obligation. It doesn’t even appear that she made any attempt to stop what was happening, and she lied to authorities, so that seems to me to make her a full accessory to the fact. She should have been given the same sentence as he.

It makes you wonder what the hell's wrong with these people!

Finally, both accused are British guests in this country, and as such they have thoroughly embarrassed all reasonable thinking other British people. It’s true that we cannot be held responsible for their actions, but nonetheless, it’s hard to hold our heads high when faced by our Spanish hosts.


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

What Sort of Crime is This?

What Sort of Crime is This when it pushes the envelope to the Extreme?

There is a case currently before the courts that I would like to write about, but I have to be careful as the matter being sub-judice, my words might influence the justices. The essential facts being alleged are as follows: A man and his female passenger while driving came upon a young motorcyclist lying in the road after having been involved in an accident with another car. Accidentally, they drove over the man and immediately stopped. At this point, I doubt that the suspects have committed any offence. What has happened to the motorcyclist is very tragic, but I think that none of the blame for anything that has happened can be put on the suspects.

Many things take place in the course of the driving day that are peculiar. We can only avoid becoming involved in tragedies if we are vigilant and if we anticipate what could happen, so in order to try to avoid them happening. For instance, many people drive as though they are the only people using the road. That is the completely incorrect assumption, of course, so it is our responsibility to be in the correct position in the road at all times. The other thing that is in our own interests is to choose a speed at which to travel that is safe and comfortable.

Continuing with the story: our suspects are in a situation in which any driver might find himself. We have come upon a young accident victim lying in the road and we have been unable to avoid running over him. We have stopped with the young man trapped under our car. This is horrible! What should we do next? I hear you say get out of the car and give as much help as you can. That makes sense to me, and is mandated by law, especially to drivers and their passengers who are involved in an accident.

It is alleged that the suspects in this case did not do that. Instead, they drove off, dragging the man, and it had to be obvious to them that he was being dragged. It is further alleged that they drove on for two kilometres with the body still attached to their car. At the end of the two kilometres, according to an eyewitness, they turned off the main road onto a side road, and inside that side road the car was driven backwards and forwards until the body became disentangled

The suspects deny that any of these things happened involving them, but the driver is charged with murder, and his passenger is charged with failing to give assistance to the victim. It seems that eye witness reports and cctv cameras do place them where they don’t want to be placed.

So, if the facts are as the prosecution allege, I have three questions: Why? Why? And Why?

Why would a driver, finding himself in the predicament of having collided with a person in the road, and now stooped, drive off instead of getting out of his car to offer assistance?

It might be because he had no driver’s license and insurance; or was drunk; or was carrying something in his car that would cause great difficulty.



Why drive on dragging a person, who, it is alleged, had life in him?

This is the one question that no one else other than the driver can answer, if he knows. I can believe that his passenger is as horrified as I am, and judging by the body language of the photo taken of the two of them in court, (he is sitting at one end of a bench, and she is at the other), he cannot expect much help from her.

Finally, why, after dragging a man’s body for two kilometres could a person be so heartless as to drive his car backwards and forwards until the body became dislodged and then drive away? This is a statement of man’s inhumanity that makes me very uncomfortable. I know that in war times, particularly involving the nazis, some things were done that are simply impossible to believe, and I find it beyond my own comprehension that I, or anyone whom I know, could stoop so low.

So, I end this with another question: What crime has actually been committed? Prosecutors have charged this man with murder, but that seems to me to not properly reflect the gravity of the crime. No one else should feel free to do the same thing because they will be free again after serving a few years behind bars. The judge in the case, if finding the man guilty as charged, should be able to throw the whole book at him. Most importantly the family of the young man must gain the satisfaction of believing that justice has been properly served.

I have a son about his age who rides a motorcycle. Were I in the shoes of that most unfortunate family, it would take a whole lot more than the standard sentence for murder to convince me that justice was well and truly done. Of that you can be sure!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Summer Driving

Where is Everybody?

There is that time of year when so many people leave the city and their jobs and head out to parts unknown, leaving the cityscape and the immediate surroundings blissfully quiet. When school is out the tension and contest for road space is immediately relieved, and I find myself giving a huge sigh of relief. That’s when you know Summer is here.

Driving along the motorway is uncrowded and I can change lanes as many times as I wish, and I don’t even need to indicate. There is simply no one else around to whom to advise of my wishes. It’s a sort of disturbing feeling being all-alone on stretches of road where ordinarily I would be surrounded. It’s as though everybody went away and I didn’t get the memo.

So I urge the rest of my fellow home-aloners to enjoy the feeling because it won’t last.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Eight into Two Can’t Go

As part of my daily driving experience I often find that the big road that I’m on becomes a much smaller road as we drop lanes as we go. I have also noticed several places where as many as eight lanes have to rapidily squeeze into two lanes, and then down to one lane. There are a few places around Valencia where for sheer entertainment you could go and watch the action at these spots.

I’m not talking about Formula 1, this is everyday driving I’m talking about. You really have to be on your toes because things change quickly. The newspaper recently reported on the completion of a tunnel for a major exit from the city of Valencia that has taken years to complete. At its opening we now find that what these folks have been doing all this time is the following:

They have built a four-lane highway underground to channel traffic out of the city heading north. However, just as the traffic exits the tunnel three of those lanes come to an abrupt halt. To make matters worse there are no markings warning motorists that they will have to merge to the left. Meanwhile, traffic above ground have another four lanes on the right, three of which will merge with the four coming out from the tunnel. Confused? What a nightmare this is!

We assume, wrongly it seems, that designers of our motorways know what they are doing. We should have gotten wise by now with some of the things that they have given us to contend with.

I will make it a point to give this area a wide berth. I don’t need to fall in with the unfortunates who find themselves in that mess.

What’s the name of this place? I really don’t know, except the word “Folly” should be part of it.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

The Funeral Car

A Big Scene


In spite of the fact that the spelling of Funeral begins with FUN, this is not a car to have fun in. Although, you can be sure that there are some young ladies that could tell us a tale or two about their early sexual experiences and the funeral hearse. Personally I would rather not hear them. I come upon this topic because we are all thinking along the lines of the death of Michael Jackson. I find myself trying to visualize what sort of final farewell is being planned. If it will be big, it will be way over the top. Even a State funeral fit for a president would be eclipsed, so in reality it should be private.

But MJ was a public person, and a show person, and this is Show Business, so I think it should be Mega-Big. This is a man who worked so hard to entertain us that his final journey should be no less an event.

So, bring on the stretch limousines for the Hollywood and music glitterati, the chauffered big wheel 4x4s for the politicians and their wives. The Hummers for the rap artists, the Cadillacs and Town cars and top of the line marques, and make it one event that no one will ever forget.

The one big question still to be answered is will “The Beast” remain parked where it is, or will it make the journey as well with its very famous passengers.

Only time will tell!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Formula One Mess and Mystery

It's a Messy Mystery

Topic “A” in the world of driving must surely be the impending split of F1 racing teams into one group that want to spend as much money as they can and wish, and the other team that wants a cap on spending budgets.

The economic crisis is affecting just about everyone in the world except, apparently Ferrari. We now have two entities, FOTA and FIA. Bernie Ecclestone, the Commercial Rights Holder heads FIA the original sponsors of Formula 1 Racing, and under their leadership Formula Racing has become what it is today. However, being sensitive to the effects that the slowdown in car sales are having on motor companies, and with the survival of the sport in mind, FIA have tried to negotiate with the teams a cap on spending.

The problem with implementing such a noble idea is that long-term participants have built up a huge infrastructure to back their cars, and to now cut spending would mean cutting that infrastructure. That’s not an easy thing to do. In the world of high cost, high stakes sports the question is perhaps simply can you afford to play the game or not. If you have to ask what will it cost, then you perhaps shouldn’t be in it. Those companies that can no longer afford the outlay have simply opted out.

At the moment eight teams have lined up on Ferrari’s side, and only five have confirmed to stay with the FIA. The FOTA have said that after 2012 they will mount their own racing series, but that remains to be seen.

Of particular interest is the fact that certain countries have entered into the incredible expense of constructing racing circuits especially for F1, and then those venues have been dropped in favour of newcomers. This would appear to be especially harsh to me.

The mystery element enters when we take a look at what is happening on the track. There was a time when race results were predictable. We knew from one year to the next that Michael Schumacher would win in his Ferrari. However, since his retirement a magical thing has happened. The world championship is anyone’s game and there is no way of telling beforehand what will happen. However, that may be in question.

During Michael Schumacher’s days F1 suffered a fall-off in interest as he was such a powerful force together with his car. That was only natural, and for a time tennis was affected by the same thing as the Williams sisters dominated, and over in golf Tiger Woods was unbeatable. Now, however, one year we are seeing one man winning race after race to become world champion, and the next year he disappears off the radar. He is the official defending champion, but he completes his races way back in the pack.

This year we have Jenson Button who can do no wrong. I really must ask myself what is going on with “The Curious case of Jenson Button.” Sorry, I couldn’t resist that, but it does help to underscore my case. I am asking myself whether there could be some kind of manipulation as to the results in the interest of keeping the sport alive. I could certainly understand the motivation, however, it would be dishonest, and if fans come to suspect that race results are fixed then interest will evaporate like smoke into thin air.

FOTA is a new organisation whose initials stand for “Formula One Teams Association.” Their objective is “To promote the development of Formula One and enhance its worldwide image and reputation.”

FIA is the “Federation Internationale de l’Automobile.” As the name implies it is a huge organisation based in Paris, France whose remit is the welfare and well-being of the automotive public at large, as well as concentrating on Formula One racing.

Formula One has descended into both mess and mystery and bears watching carefully. We certainly have not heard the last from this sport, and that’s for certain.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Making the Points

Don't Miss the Points


The Spanish DGT has announced that in celebration of the three-year anniversary of the points system, those drivers who have not lost any points will actually be given two more points. At the end of the next three year period those drivers who have not lost any points over the six-year period will then be given an extra point bringing the total to fifteen, the maximum available.

That’s a good thing and very encouraging as drivers here in Spain worry more about losing points than they seem to worry about losing their lives. A curious thing that, but the statistics did reflect the potential loss of points by bringing down the death rate when all else failed.

While this is a positive development the story on the other hand is about a great many drivers who have lost all twelve of their points, and they lost additional points that they never had, some having lost twenty points in all. That is quite astonishing and speaks to the hardcore bad driver. There are some people who should not hold a driving permit as they are a menace to everyone else.

The giving of additional points is not without its irony as the people who have held their points intact seemingly don’t actually need more as presumably they’ll protect those as well. The people who need additional points are the ones who have lost all their original issue. However, points are not tradeable, and I hope they never will be as the last thing that we need is to keep the bad guys on the road.

Drive safely, keep a watch for cyclists, and guard your points.


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

One dead Motorcyclist a Day

May, 2009 was notable for the fact that in Spain a motorcyclist a day lost his life on the roads. This is a striking fact that should have the alarm bells ringing in earnest. These were young men on their way to one place or another when they collided with death itself. Presumably there are as many reasons why these things happened as there are cases, but the bottom line is that we are losing tomorrow’s leaders for reasons that are all preventable.

Unfortunately the first image that comes to mind is that of the careless and reckless rider who crashes his motorcycle into a wall or huge truck at top speed. It’s a shame when even that happens. I was young once and I seem to remember that I did not always think through my next move before I took action, so we have to remember that simply being young is a hazard in itself.

This is no time for recriminations. We would do well to remember that every lost son leaves behind people who find that they loved him more than they knew. For parents who have to bury their sons because they crashed their motorcycle is very hard to accept. If our country is at war and we lose our son in battle that is still very difficult to live with. At least his life would have been cut short in the noble execution of his duty.

What needs to happen in order to stop these losses from occurring?

Firstly, as a bike rider it needs to be recognised that the rider has no real protection at all. Consequently we should try and avoid all surprises. To do that we have to keep our eyes on the road ahead as well as trying to anticipate what may come from the sides.

Secondly, appropriate speed under all conditions is vital. Riding too fast is the number one cause of spills. The speed limit that is posted along a stretch of road may be fine under normal conditions. Such conditions that involved dry, clean streets and a fluid flow of traffic would be fine. However, if it is raining and at night that same stretch requires a reduction in speed.

The urge to “show off” is something that is reserved for guys, and it will always be our downfall. Give a young guy an audience and he will want to draw attention to himself. Maybe he hopes that the pretty girl will be drawn to his skill and derring-do and she will become his. The dopey thing is that even if she does consent to perch her cute hot pants bum on his bike, he will still do silly things in an attempt to continue to impress her. The shame is that all he has to do to truly impress her is to get her back home safely. So, avoid the temptation to Grand Stand if you want to live another day.

Drivers are asked to be vigilant for cyclists. The problem is that so often they are hard to spot in the midst of so much environmental clutter. Cyclist are therefore urged to “Be Seen to be Safe!” What this means is that they should wear a reflective jacket over their clothes. The difference is amazing to see how drivers will give motorcyclists a much wider berth if they are so dressed. This is because the excuse is taken away that the driver just didn’t see the bike coming. Just one glimpse of a reflective jacket means that probably it is being worn by a person, so take care!

Nowhere is it written that by simply going to work, or to the movies or to the supermarket you are running a 99% risk of meeting your death. However, if you are coming home from the bar on your bike after having consumed several alcoholic drinks, the chances are more than likely that will be your last ride.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Finally, Something New in the World of Cars!

It's a Revolution!

The world has been consumed with the need to get away from using fossil fuels for energy. Such fuels contaminate and are not unlimited, and have a way of financing some of the most unpleasant providers on the planet. The one advantage that travel by boat has always had is that there was an option to move without cost, and that is by wind. A day out sailing can be both very delightful as well as cost free.

Driving has never been free, and never will be. However, the search has been to make it as cheap as possible. The most promising development to date had been the Electric Car, but electricity has a significant cost. It has the benefit however, as it makes the actual running of the car quiet and pollution-free.

Now, introducing The Air Car!

This incorporates a new concept that uses only compressed air to move the vehicle. There’s no need for a battery or even an ounce of petrol, however, on compressed air you can only get it up to 55 kmph. To go faster than that you will have to accept the use of a conventional backup gasoline motor.

France is the country that gets the award for this radical new and practical method of energy. It is really great news to the energy world as being nothing short of revolutionary. The company that will mass produce the Air car is Tata Motors of India. Not Renault, but Tata, and that leads me to ask how long has this technology been ready to be produced for mass transport?

Automakers around the world are in big trouble. They have manufactured cars that no one wants to buy because of a lack of quality, or simply because they have become victims of the worldwide economic crisis like everyone else. It doesn’t seem to be sheer coincidence that this “brand new” technology is now being released upon the world.

I understand that there are vast investments tied up in the fossil fuel driven vehicle. However, we are seeing cars being sold at cut-prices, and even then buyers are scarce. General Motors of the United States will have declared bankruptcy by the time you read this. I try to imagine the scope of the impact of that upon the world and it seems to me like pulling out the one last rock that held up the mountain, or on a smaller scale to aid imagination, if we accept the image of a pile of oranges as being the world, what would happen if you were to pull out one of the bottom oranges. Catastrophe!

In an earlier blog on this very topic of coping with rising fuel costs I suggested that there are probably technologies that are variable to that upon which we rely, but that they are being kept under wraps. The Air Car is likely one of those.

Anyway, the news item appearing in The Costa Blanca News says that 2010 is the year that the car will make its debut, and America is the selected country that the market will be tested for it. An initial run of 10,000 cars will be available for sale at a price range of about 18,000 dollars. The cost of running one will be ridiculously low, as it will cost about two dollars to cover approximately 300 kilometres, and general maintenance will be about zero cost. From the models shown it appears that they are for single person travel,on up to five-seaters.

With this car automobile travel has truly turned a corner and opened up possibilities for the future that are straight out of science fiction.

Like all very good ideas this is so simple. Why didn’t I, or you think of it first?

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

I Don’t Want to go to Jail

You Don't have to go to Jail if you don't want to!

Since anyone can remember lawlessness on the roads has been rampant. The DGT has made passing the tests to obtain a driving license so difficult that many people simply gave up. They bought a cheap acr and drove without a permit, insurance, or without paying the road tax. When they were finally stopped and their car was taken from them, they simply went out and bought another.

The implications of that were horrific. When such people were the cause of an accident they simply left the scene. They were uninsured so that left their victims at a disadvantage. Finally, the lawmakers got tough. They mandated that anyone found driving under the influence of drink or drugs would be taken straight to jail. However, they were picking up lawmakers themselves, and law enforcers. So, there was a backing off from that.

After the passing of time the proposal was brought back with the added provision that anyone driving who had never held a license would also go to jail This made sense because those people who drove around in wrecks that they dared the police to take from them, now faced going straight to jail. That gave many of them pause. But, now the courts are very reluctant to send people to prison for these offences. Instead they are sentencing people to do Community Service.

In principle that sounds noble, however, there are so many people out of work that these jobs should be a means of returning people to employment so that they can earn a living. It’s all very well declaring to the judge that “I don’t want to go to jail” for my sins of driving while drunk or without a license, but you really shouldn’t expect to be taken seriously. But, that is exactly what is happening in the courts.

What is wrong with this picture!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Not Among the Usual Suspects

To Protect and to Serve

If you were in Valencia during this week, May 11th to 16th, you might have noticed the police presence. The fact is that seldom has so many police been seen so close together. It appeared that the focus was on proper documentation. As I drove around I came upon check- points in downtown Valencia, in the suburbs, in the boonies, in fact, just about everywhere.

It got to be so ridiculous that motorists were stopped at one roundabout, and when they left that one they were possibly stopped again at the very next roundabout. The extraordinary thing is that I drove throughout the week and went through many of these police stops without actually being pulled over. I have to say that I am a black man from Bermuda, which is so close to the United States I can’t help making comparisons between Spain and the U.S.

I have said this before, and it bears repeating: the Spanish police appear to be one of the most disciplined bodies that I have ever seen. There might be those who disagree, but from the standpoint of policing without prejudice they seem to have it right.

Respect for law and order starts with the police enforcement in the streets. In democracies policing is by consent, so to have the police acting like Nazis brings the institution into disrepute. That never stopped the police of several cities in the U.S. Ask any black man about their experience with the police, and whether they have respect for them. Unfortunately, the response will always be negative, even when you are talking to professionals, especially the lawyers. The practise of bigoted policemen was, and probably still is to harass black men, and if the citizen appears to be someone upstanding and professional they become a special target. Should he be driving a high end car he is made to step out of the car, and to prove how he was able to buy the car.

The most amazing thing is that when there are two policemen on duty together, and one is black the harassment continues. However, when the police come upon the gang-bangers driving their customized Humvees that were obviously bought with drug money, the cops pass them by. That is because they know the car is loaded with guns.

So, imagine if you can a situation where you only get stopped if you merit it, or you simply draw the short straw. I fully expect to be pulled over from time to time and have to produce my documentation. This is simply the role of the police, and when they are doing this they are protecting me against unlicensed and uninsured drivers, so I have no objection at all. It’s just very nice to live in a country where the rule of law is served even-handed.


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Diplomatic Plates

I have just purchased a second-hand big, beautiful, shiny Jaguar with diplomatic plates. Unfortunately I have had to turn in the plates, but I’m left holding this marvellous car, and that has led me to wondering what would it be like to drive a car with immunity to prosecution?

The whole topic of the Diplomatic Corp is so off the radar that average people can have no real concept of what Diplomatic Immunity can mean. Fundamentally it is an agreement between governments not to prosecute each other’s agents while they are performing their duties in foreign countries. It is ancient practise based upon mutual and reciprocal understanding that a person so protected will not have to appear before the court in the host country.

However, under certain circumstances the host country may request that the diplomat be withdrawn, or the host country may expel that person. In cases of serious crimes committed by the diplomat the immunity may be withdrawn by the official’s home country, and that would allow for full prosecution as an ordinary citizen.

While all this protection sounds wonderful, the fact is that a person who is a diplomat should be the last person to break the law. Usually we expect someone in that position to be undertaking very serious work on behalf of their native country, and consequently should know better.

That has a nice sound to it, but the fact is that the most egregious acts committed by diplomats usually happen when they are under the influence of alcohol. Drunken diplomats behind the wheel have killed people, and if the home country refuses to lift the immunity the host country cannot prosecute. The record is complete with many examples of this sort of thing happening; however, these days the trend is more towards either lifting the immunity in the host country, or bringing the official home to be prosecuted under home laws. Governments are becoming less tolerant of irresponsible behaviour by their officials abroad. At the least it is an embarrassment, and at worse it seriously damages the reputation of the home country.

There is one area that tends to frustrate more than anything else, and that is parking. In New York, home to the United Nations, and consequently the place where practically every other person is a diplomat, cars on diplomatic plates are regularly parked provocatively against the law. Curiously, policemen insist on ticketing such cars, and those tickets get ignored leading the City to complain to The State Department. Countries tend to have a rule that such parking tickets should be paid and the offence not repeated. However, these offences tend to be committed by drivers in their bosses’ name, presumably as a means to feel big.

So, just for a moment I thought it might be nice to be able to do things that not even the police can do…… with their police cars. But then, I went and lay down until the feeling went away, and I gave back the plates.

We can all dream, can’t we?


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

20 Minutes

It only takes two seconds to have a collision

My driving story this week is a real winner. It is all about whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.

I discovered a 1995 Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign that has been maintained in showroom condition as it is a diplomatic car on diplomatic plates. It has been used to ferry top brass for American NATO in Europe, but after fourteen years its time to move on.

Fortunately, my Volvo has been demanding a lot of attention as it needs a number of parts to be replaced. This I understand, but it does mean that the car is constantly not available to me as it goes through this refurbishment stage, so I decided I would need a second car to get me around.

This brought me into contact with one of the greatest guys I could ever hope to meet. He has been absolutely wonderful, to the extent that acquiring the car is probably the least of it. With people such as Chris going about the world as ambassadors the United States will soon regain its position in the world as a country that everyone looks up to, especially for its people.

So, we concluded our business in the sale and purchase of the car, and I drove away. The plan was to meet with friends for a coffee, then to go home. I never made it to the meeting place.

I was driving along when I encountered a pedestrian crossing with two pedestrian about to cross, so I bought the automatic JAG to a nice and gentle halt. Then, I heard the screeching of tyres as a 4x4 came bearing down on me. With the pedestrians now right in front of me I could do nothing but wait for the impact. However, the 4x4 came to a halt with only about a hair’s width between us, but before I could exhale there came a crash from behind the 4x4, that in turn caused it to bump into me. At this point, I had possession of the car for twenty minutes.

I simply could not believe it!

My first reaction was to go ballistic, but I soon cooled down and went to take a look. Where was the damage? The third car had plenty to contend with. The second car had it back and front. I had nothing. This was too good to be true. I checked over the car several times, and I noticed that the license plate of the 4x4 was bent, meaning that it had collided with my bumper. The effect of that was to give me a little push, and also lessening the pressure I had on the brake, thereby moving the JAG forward. By this time the pedestrians had jumped out of the way.

It seems that the 4x4 was being driven by a mother who appears to have been distracted by her daughter (who may not have been wearing a seatbelt). When realising that I had stopped she braked hard, and that may have thrown the little girl around. We pulled off the road and there was much commotion around that car. The husband got out to exchange details and the wife sped off with pandemonium taking place in the car.

Of course, in a case like this, it’s always the driver who comes from behind that is at fault. The Seat was at fault for the damage caused to the 4x4, and the 4x4 was responsible to me. Had I been closer to the pedestrian crossing to cause injury to the pedestrians that would have been my fault. So, apart from not boding well for my ownership of this fabulous car, there are some lessons to be learned. When you are driving you cannot allow yourself to be distracted or panicked. You are completely in charge of a motor vehicle, so therefore it is your absolute responsibility. Secondly, driving at an appropriate speed is always appropriate, taking all circumstances into consideration.

All passengers must be strapped in. I cannot say for certain that the little girl was allowed to move around without a seatbelt, but it did appear that way. Fortunately she didn’t seem to be too badly hurt, although that is difficult to say. Lastly, something that I have learned over the more than fifty years of driving experience is that you always need to leave adequate room between yourself and the person or thing in front of you, just in case of situations such as this.

This is the thing that people find difficult to understand: that if you are pushed into someone or something in front of you, it becomes your fault for not having left enough room to consider the faults of others.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

CUENCA

Who Did This?

Over the Easter holidays four of us took a little drive from Valencia to Cuenca City. It was the realisation of a long held promise by Pepe to give us a guided tour of the city in which he grew up and came to know so well. He made this promise ten years ago, and finally we got to make the journey.

The city itself is an important centre of commerce with about 50,000 residents. It seems to be fairly well laid out and quite modern. Pepe had not been in the city for a long enough period to notice that there had been many changes. To begin with, he first visited the hotel in which we lodged when he was nine years old. He recalled going there to visit when it was a Convent, trembling with fear that was appropriate for the nuns.

It is now a Parador, a state-owned and run hotel that has a commanding view over the great Gorge. It retains vestiges of its religious past, including the confessional that now houses a telephone in each recess. I tried to convince Pepe that modern technology allowed for him to place a direct call to El Jefe, instead of having to go through someone here on earth. He was not amused.

The principal reason why there were several busloads of Japanese tourists there was to see the Hanging Houses, (Las Casas Colgadas). In my opinion, we go there to celebrate this bit of utter lunacy. While there are only three houses that have been built in this manner, the entire Gorge is lined with other buildings that are close to the edge, but far enough back to be reasonable. If the ground ever moves in that area the famous three houses will be history.

So we, like the Japanese went for the same reason, and to add to that bit of folly we dared to have lunch in the building that is the restaurant. Many jokes were made about whether we should start with dessert, just in case the meal didn’t last all the way through to that point.

I can hear in my head the builders who put it all together standing back when it was finished and musing “I wonder how long the houses will stay there?” Well, apparently a very long time. The historical blurb states that it is not known who the architect/culprit responsible was, although it seems to have Moorish origins. The buildings date back to about the 14th-15th centuries and are now used partly by the Museum of Abstract Art, (Las Casas del Rey), and the restaurant (La Casa de la Sirena). Although I am being a little critical I nonetheless recommend you should visit as you won’t believe your eyes.

As you are in the Province of Cuenca there are a couple of other things that are worthy of your time and interest. One is to pay a visit to the birthplace of the River Cuervo. (El Nacimiento del Rio Cuervo). If you’re like me, from a country that has no rivers or lakes, to be in the presence of such a great river is a real treat. It begins in the normal manner of water flooding out from underground, but this river then immediately falls from a great height before going on its way, a very impressive start to a journey that will impact so heavily upon so many regions and people. We were there as the snow was melting and that added to the authenticity.

I reserve my greatest plaudits for something so incredible as to be practically beyond belief. I’m talking about El Ciudad de Encantada, The Enchanted City. Apparently, many moons ago, in spite of the high elevation this area was under water, and the wash of the water worn down the rocks forming many extraordinary natural shapes. You do have to have an imagination, but it doesn’t have to be that good for you to be able to see all manner of replications of animals and ships and this and that. It is truly astounding for the fact that it is all-natural. In this it is sort of a Disney World type of experience except that man has not had any hand in its design and making.

The amazing thing to me on top of everything else was that Pepe reflected on the many visits that he made as a young child, and again with his family when it was not a tourist point of interest, and the fact that they climbed all over areas that are now practically sacred.

How cool is that?

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

The Surprise at the End of the Road

The Different Personalities of a Roadway

I’m sure that at one time or another you have travelled most of the length of a particular road, but I believe that there are very few people who have actually gone end-to-end on any road. I just wondered how things might turn out for you if you did. I recently got to drive a distance farther than I have ever done before along the CV-35, otherwise known as the Pista de Ademuz in Valencia.

This is a roadway that I travel in part most days. I usually enter it at about kilometre 27 or 24 and I go in the direction towards Valencia City, so I’m counting down to zero. This section of the road has been upgraded and is now a first class Autovia with three and sometimes four lanes in the same direction. All of the bottlenecks that have caused us so much pain have been deleted, and it is now a real joy.

With a little imagination we can see the highway as something that has character. With this particular roadway it has a big, bold, brass, city-slicker personality the closer we get to downtown Valencia. It keeps up this façade until we pass La Pobla del Valbona. At that time a bit of its bravado slips and we go from three lanes to two in the same direction. Now, gone are the brassy Centro Comerciales with all their bright lights. We are evidently entering The Country side of life. Farms actually become noticeable, and we can feel a sigh escape us as we sense less claustrophobia. The condition of the road remains very good as we pass Lliria, the seat of the government in the east.

Soon there will be a major hospital located in this region to serve residents, who have had to make the journey all the way into Valencia to attend at a major centre.

We continue along a straight two-lane very excellent road that some people mistake for a racetrack. This is real country now with wide-open spaces on both sides of the road. We pass Domeño and head for the town of Casinos. The road previously ran right through the town. Now it by-passes Casinos altogether. We wonder how much of a loss that might be for the merchants.

Now the road is down to one lane in each direction, although the road is in excellent condition. For the remainder of the CV-35 we will have to be content with no more than that. However, it’s the state of those two lanes that are the subject of concern. The road will take us through Losa del Obispo, Calles, Chelva, Tuéjar, Titaguas, Aras del Olmas, all of which are within the Communidad de Valencia. The road, although it degrades, is still reasonably good up until kilometre 90. Then it degrades further into not much more than a country cami, the sort of roadway that existed and served the Seat 600 so long ago. There are curves upon curves, and two cars of today’s sizes can barely pass without knocking off mirrors.

The CV-35 ends at kilometre 107. That’s where we pass out of the Valencian community until we re-enter at Ademuz. At km 107 we can hardly believe that this is a part of the bold and sassy CV-35 we know from farther down the line.

When we think back and reflect upon all the complaints we had because we were delayed for a few moments, and we compare that with conditions at the end of the line, we realise we didn’t have anything to complain about after all.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Underground Parking Lots

Underground Parking Lots
The entrance into Hell?

I came upon an underground parking lot in Valencia with which I have no complaints at all. The drive in is wide and comfortable to manoeuvre; the bays are wide enough to park even a large car with room enough to open the doors; and getting out again can be done without leaving your paintwork along the sides of the walls. This is a new site and truly an exception in an otherwise hellish experience offered to drivers.

To begin with such places are usually under lit, giving the impression that you have ventured down into the depths of hell. Often just paying for your stay can be frustrating. I have been into a few that make it a challenge to get a Volvo five-seater car into without scratching or denting the vehicle. The smog bastards who run these places simply say it’s not their fault if you damage your car. It certainly is their fault!

I recently was leaving a department store and I could not find where to pay for my ticket. There are several exits from the store into the parking garage, but only one in which the machines are located. There is not one sign that directs drivers to that place, consequently so much time is wasted (and paid for) while trying to pay. Then, the exits involve very tight turns so that unless you are driving anything other than a Smart Car you will have to be very careful indeed. There is ample evidence of people who were not careful enough.

As if all that were not enough to bring on Parking Garage rage, there’s the cost involved. This seems to be one recession-proof industry as costs continue on an upward spiral.

That’s why you need to know that the Agua Shopping Mall in Valencia that is located alongside the Arts and Science Museum offers shoppers three hours free parking; and the Mercado Fuencarril, located along the old river bed at the base of Avda Campoamour offers two hours free in garages that are fairly well appointed and well lit.

Better still, leave the car on the outskirts of the city and travel in on public transport.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

My Mechanic and Me

Of one thing I’m certain: it’s a man thing. It’s amazing how we can value our motor mechanic relationship higher than the one with our doctor. In both cases finding just the relationship that works is very difficult. So many of us prize our cars and we want someone who is knowledgeable and sympathetic to care for our pride and joy.

How ridiculous can our obsession get? I once had a Volkswagon Scirroco that I prized to the extreme. Each evening when I got home I would give it a wipe over, put it in the garage, then cover it. How dopey is that? It’s a car! It’s a utility that gets me from A to B and back again. It will get dirty and scratched and pranged and dented, and worse. That is the nature of the game. But, there I was treating it as though it were a live thing, with the greatest of Tender Loving Care. Women can only wish that we men take the same degree of care and attention with them. Like I said, it’s a silly man thing.

Like so many things, there comes a time when we have to trust to others to take care of business, and so it was when my car came to a full stop suffering from a broken hose spilling a lot of boiling hot water into the street. I did the natural thing by calling a grua, (tow-truck) to pick it up and take it to my trusted garage. I called them to say what had happened, fully expecting that as they were the authorised dealer they would figure out where the break had taken place, and to fix it. Wrong! Big mistake! A 700 euro mistake, as it turned out.

They put the water system under pressure but no water appeared to escape, so they changed the radiator and a pump, as being the most likely culprits. I drove the car away only to find that it was having the same problem I went in with. Back it went to have the problem taken care of, but now we have a new problem. I have paid a bill for 700 euros (910 dollars) for things that I did not need at the time to be changed. Granted, a new radiator and pump would add life to my old car, and if I actually had that much money that I would not miss, there would not have been a problem. But, in these days, or even in the good old times, a 700 euro mistake is a big one.

I take my car to an authorised dealer because they are supposed to have the equipment and the experience to avoid guessing. I can get guessing at a much less cost. My mechanic guessed and got it completely wrong, at my cost. Now that the parts are on the car, would it have been reasonable to ask that they be removed and the original be put back, assuming that the originals were available? Probably not!

Well, now we know that the leak was coming from the heating element and water went everywhere when it was hot. When the water was cold it simply went inside my car where it went undetected under my carpets. Could this really have been the first time something like that had occurred? If it should ever happen to me again I will be sure to check that possibility out.

When your doctor lets you down and you die, that’s just one of those things. When your mechanic lets you down and you lose your faith, that’s the end of the world!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Take Care out There

I wish this motorcyclist was wearing a reflective vest to be seen to be safe!

The following scene all took place within about ten seconds. It was completely instructive and could have saved the average driving student weeks of training.

A motorcyclist was following a car far too closely and apparently was intending to overtake inappropriately.
The car driver seemed to suddenly realise that he needed to enter a side road that he was then passing, so he made a sharp left turn into the entrance. Were it not for the motorcyclist who was entirely too close, no-one else would have been disturbed by the manoeuvre.
The cyclist became so alarmed and enraged that he started giving the car loud mouth abuse while at the same time looking over his shoulder to deliver it. I don’t think that the driver had any clue what was happening.
Coming towards the biker was another car and they were headed for a head-on collision. The driver blasted his horn and the biker got another scare, and the collision was avoided by mere millimetres.

The moral of the story is: (a) Keep your distance; (b) do not overtake along two-way road systems unless it is abundantly clear that it is safe to do so; (c) when in the process of making a mistake it is safer to play the mistake out properly by going on to the next roundabout or entrance, then driving back. (d) Lastly, keep your eyes on the road ahead. Road conditions are constantly changing.

It’s a jungle out there! Take care.


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Go Full, Return Empty

A Yellow Canary

This isn’t even possible, but in the world of hire cars this is one of the very common terms that you are expected to adhere to. Basically, if you don’t have to hire a car then you would be well advised not to do so. One thing is clear, whatever you think you will pay you will eventually end up paying more….much more.

We have just completed an around Andalusia driving tour, and the truth is that we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but the hire companies do get you. We responded to a come on from one company that promised a car for six days at a cost of 60 euros. The actual cost to us before we even turned the key was 127 euros. The terrible thing was that the company that we chose was one of the better ones.

The basic rental was as advertised, however, added to that was the cost of the full tank of petrol at 48 euros. This was a Kia Picanto, bright yellow, that reminded me of driving around in a canary, with a very small tank that holds 35 litros. The cost to fill up is about 30 euros.

Then, they charge 2 euros a day for the second driver. What’s this for? Probably nothing, but they can charge it, so they do

You are advised to take out comprehensive insurance cover that pays from the first euro. No excess charge fee for the insured driver is a very good thing, because if there is an excess charge you’ll probably get stuck with it, even for minor scratches that were already there but not noticed by you when you picked up the car. (At least that has been my experience.)

Then there is the little matter of the cost of the insurance. Comprehensive cover for my car in my name would cost about 750 euros annually. That’s about 2 euros a day. However, some companies charge a per day charge of a specific amount for this cover that is over and above the basic rental. I have paid around Î5.00 a day. We can quickly see the profit involved there.

Car hire is like travelling by plane. You know it’s going to be painful, but it’s just one of those irritants that we learn to live with.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

General Motors and All that Jazz

We have been hearing for some time that automakers in the United States have been facing some very difficult times. They have been before the U.S. Senate asking for government funding to keep them afloat. Originally their request was denied, however former president Bush signed an executive order appropriating funds to assist them. However, General Motors are now saying that was not enough, and that their problems are so deep seated that they are seriously facing bankruptcy.

The three major automakers in the U.S. are GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Together, with smaller parts makers, they are the most labour intensive industry in the United States. The consequences of GM closing are the same as the sky falling. It simply cannot be imagined.

U.S. automakers are in large part their own worst enemy. They have failed to make good, fuel economy cars that Americans want to buy. That gave an opportunity to Japanese firms to satisfy that market, resulting in the loss of that market to the Big Three. But the problem that they now face is common to all automakers, in that as people lose their jobs, or watch a shrinking economy, car sales have fallen like a heavy rock.

Many of their workers have already been sent home as they are overproducing inventory that no one is buying. A complete closure would add so many people to the unemployed roster as to spell complete disaster.

Filmmakers have put their imagination to work in creating disaster films where people live like rats in underground sewers and abandoned buildings without law and order.

As a reality, is this so difficult to imagine? Stay tuned!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

The Annual Examination

Here in Spain the examination of your vehicle is undertaken by the ITV, which means Inspeción Tecnica Vehiculo. This is a private business that works in concert for the government, something that we call a Quango in the U.K. The government here would say that it has outsourced the problem.

I have written about annual examinations before, and I return briefly to say that life has gotten a little bit better as they streamline their operations. Now, you can make an appointment on-line for your annual inspection. Instead of showing up without an appointment you can now show up at the designated time and be seen to within a reasonable waiting period.

Normally, this is a very painful experience that takes up to two hours of staying with your vehicle and moving it forward one car space at a time. Taxi drivers demanded that the system be improved so that they need not spend two hours going through this twice a year.

So, the appointment system was created for them, but other people saw what was happening and spoke up in indignation. In response the opportunity has been thrown open to everyone, but amazingly most people still prefer to go and simply wait the two, or more hours.

I expect the system will catch on. Then it will change into one whereby it will be difficult to get an appointment unless booking a year ahead.

Good Luck!

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Goodbye Old Friend

Well, it’s taken me five years to do it, but I finally called in the grua to take away our1992 Fiat Tempra station wagon. It has sat around on the property all that time as a good and faithful friend. Every time that I went to run the engine it answered promptly, even though the spiders took it over as their own home. It developed that old person smell after a while, as compared to the new car smell, so we knew it was getting along in age.

We stopped driving it because it developed a problem of jack-rabbiting, or hiccupps that absolutely no mechanic in the land was able to clear up. They could alleviate the effects a bit, but the problem always came back again. To say that it was embarrassing is an understatement. Finally, we bought another car and simply parked the Fiat and forgot about it.

I did start it periodically to keep the battery charged, and then, after about a year of this I decided that it was time to get rid of it. So, I started it up and moved it and the problem was no longer in evidence, and was never experienced again. It seems that all it needed was a vacation. However, to pass it through itv it would also have needed a few other things done to it that would have probably cost more than we could have sold it for.

So, with reluctance and a heavy heart I called in the grua and we drove it on to the truck, I gave it a pat on its rump to say “farewell and thank you”, and it was gone.
It’s funny how attached we can become to things. A car is supposed to be an inanimate object, but once we turn the key it bursts forth into life and becomes something full of energy. We call our cars names, even some not-so-polite ones, but that has the effect of endearing them to us. It might be an SOB, but it’s my SOB.

So Fiat Tempra V-7964-EB, wherever you are, you are gone but not forgotten.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Games Drivers Play

I can’t say that I actually enjoy driving, but I do enjoy the right to get up and go when I wish, and the facility of getting from point “A” to point “B” at my own leisure. In fact, while making my journeys I can get quite a bit bored, especially when going over the same territory every day. So, I like so many other people turn to simple games, or worse, daydreaming about what I will do with my winnings from the lottery.

That’s not good because sometimes you get into your own little world and fail to take in all the details that are necessary. I try to avoid that, but a simple little game of taking note of car license plates is harmless enough.

You may have noticed that here in Spain the numbering system employs four digits numerals. These range from 0000 to 9999. Therefore, there are 9999 vehicles in each grouping, followed by alphabet letters to denote the number grouping. What I mean by that is, the first grouping would have been 0000 to 9999 –A. There would have been 26 groups of single letter plates. At the front of the series would be the community letter. Thus, V-9999-A was a vehicle that was registered in the Valencia community, and was the last one in that series.

It is always a joy for me to spot a car with a single letter. It will be a very old car, because when you buy a new car you usually have to accept the new registration number.

Once all the single letters were issued they moved on to double letter series, repeating the same formula. Now three letters are being employed. I have already seen CNT and FCK. I can’t wait for the four-letter series.

The Spanish DGT (Trafico) had its origins in 1778 under Royal Decree that gave it it’s mandate. The General Rules of the Road (las normativos) were not formed until 1899. The original speed limits were 28km/h on roads between towns, and 15 km/h in town. In Valencia City that speed has hardly increased on most days. Some times, on average it has decreased.

The first car in Europe was created in 1769 for a man named Nicolas Joseph Cugnot. It was operated on steam and was invented by a man named James Walt.

The modern car had its birth in Germany in 1886. It was developed by Karl benz and Gottlieb Daimeler. The original matricula was PM-1. I suppose if that was in Britain it might have meant Prime Minister.

So, my game continues to be trying to make something of license plates. I am reminded of people whom I know back in Bermuda when I see their license plate numbers, and I can also make up words by adding the missing letter.

I agree its silly, but it keeps me sane.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Daddy, What can you See?

Get ready for this!

This is about road traffic jams.

We all have experienced them at one time or another. Some people have to go through it every day. How tiresome must that be? The equivalent scare word to Boo! to motorists must surely be “Road Works Ahead!” The problem is that as each country tries to work itself out of its economic problems there will be lots of make-work projects like roads to be built or repaired or hedges trimmed, and a lot of that work will be carried out by previously high priced executives.

The one thing that will be common is that we the motorists will pay dearly with our patience. Those people who have nowhere to go will stay at home rather than go through all that business of just sitting in your car while craning their necks trying to see what the problem is.

The types of problems that we consider legitimate that make us late for work are crashes. The bigger the crash the more we have to enlarge on when we finally get to work. Even events that take place on the opposite lane can have the effect of causing a tailback on our side. People tend to have to rubberneck to see what’s going on. The result often is accidents happen on our side as we drive into one another.

There was once a major fire along the highway most travelled by me. It was in a large warehouse with lots of attending firemen. Nothing to do with traffic but lines formed for miles as we all had to get a snapshot on our mobile phones.

I have learnt a lesson that I try to live by, but not everybody agrees that if I have an important appointment I should leave lots of time for getting there to try and take account of possible traffic jams. Once I am parked and outside my destination I can always go and get a coffee or read a newspaper.

My big question about traffic jams is that men, and only men seem to have to get out of the car to see what’s happening. Women don’t do this. It is only a man thing. In the history of driving no man has ever answered the question “What’s the problem, Daddy?” with anything other than “I don’t know!”

Funny, don’t you think?

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Driving Music

Is it just me, or are you too affected by your choice of music while driving?

The radio/cd player is an integral part of the safety features of your car. It is there not just to entertain you, but more importantly to avoid the driver falling asleep through boredom. It is as much a part of the safety features as a good set of tyres, and it should be used with common sense.

Especially when engaging on long drives it should be employed for its prime use. The problem arises in the choice of music to listen to, and this is where the human factor comes in, and is as variable as the weather. The objective is to stop yourself falling asleep, so your choice of artist is completely up to the individual.

My favourite group are The Toasters, a popular Ska Band of very long standing. Their music is so good and so pumped up that it is impossible to fall asleep. The problem is that they are such high energy that I find my foot pressing the accelerator too much. I actually drive faster than I would without their influence. The opposite occurs when listening to music with a calming effect. On a long journey that is actually dangerous.

The best choice for me is a disc with various artists presenting a wide variety of songs. If I start to get going too fast another selection with a more calming effect will bring me back to my senses. My Volvo sound system is very good, and some songs just beg to be blasted as they are so powerful. This is a mistake to do in a moving vehicle because with the windows rolled up you will not be able to hear any road sounds. Naturally, we need to hear sirens and other warning sounds.

This may be considered as a cautionary tale to be careful when mixing driving with music. The worst case would be to collide with another vehicle and your music just keeps on pumping.

Copyright (c) 2009 Eugene Carmichael

The Crisis Bites Hard

The economic crisis is hitting Spain very hard. Some say that the effect is being felt harder in this economic zone, especially if we look to the rising tide of unemployed. For a little background perspective we need look no further that the building industry.

When we arrived here ten years ago crime, especially against homes was flourishing. So many people were without work that if you had a home and others didn’t, you were considered fair game. Then came the change from pesetas to euros. That had the effect of forcing a mountain of money out into the open. It had been a form of national sport to cheat the taxman, so money that was held in cash behind all that ironwork covering doors and windows of people’s homes had to be converted into euros. Simply taking it to the bank was not an option as the game would have been exposed. Instead, people did a very strange thing with it: they bought property and built towers for business or for homes, and they also bought expensive cars and yachts, etc. In other words, secret money was turned into very obvious things.

However, the building boom didn’t stop once the changeover to the euro was complete. New developments continued at an alarming pace. The value of real estate rocketed and a lot of people got very rich in the process. Personally, I could not see what was driving the runaway development. It was all around us in our little town of L’Eliana. So much new building was taking place at the same time, the sky was dotted with building cranes, as though they were television antennas.

When I asked who would inhabit all the new buildings people would simply shrug their shoulders. It was hoped that people from Madrid would invest their money in second homes that gave them access to the beaches of Valencia, but other than that there was a definite shortage of warm bodies.

But now all of that has come to a grinding halt. Many building projects have simply been put on hold until circumstances allow for their completion, and new projects are simply not being started except in very few cases. Added to all of that misery is the huge inventory of unsold properties.


That has led to the loss of so many jobs that were held by workers directly involved in building, as well as those in support. This does not augur well for Spain. It suggests coming days of darkness in the near future. Many people who came to Spain in search of work from elsewhere in Europe have either returned home or gone to other countries. Needless to say crime is on the upsurge.

One sector that is being hit hard is that involving driving licenses. Driving schools are seeing their student enrolments falling off. To keep their customers the schools are having to allow credit terms. I have just read that proof of the situation can be seen clearly in the examination centre at El Saler in Valencia where crowds of people would be found all day to take their theory exams or their practicals. Apparently, now by noontime the place is deserted.

The irony is that Trafico has been making it ever more difficult for people to get a pass. Now it seems that circumstances external have taken over that limit the number of new drivers on the road. However, that only means that there will be fewer legal drivers, although to be caught driving without a permit and/or insurance means going straight to jail from the car.


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

The Perfect Student Driver

To the Perfect Student Driver-Congratulations!

Our son, Nathaniel, came home today and declared that he had passed his practical driving test for a car license. I might have been terrified had he his eyes on my car, however I drive a Volvo so I don’t have to worry, but his mother drives a Seat Leon so I think she may be a little concerned. Maybe that’s why in a week’s time he will be off to Australia.

Most parents complain when they are caught up in the act of providing taxi services for their children, but they forget that there is something even worse that’s to come. That is when the kids get their own driving permits.

This is intended to be a homage to our son because he has a perfect record in the matter of gaining his permits to travel independent of us. First there was the case of getting a permit to ride a moped when he was fourteen. That really did not require much from him at all. But that’s the problem, very young children go out on the road on their slow moving mopeds, and far too many don’t get to grow up.

Next came his desire to move up to 125 cc motorbikes. To do that he was required to sit a theory examination that was in two parts. The first part was regarding the motorcycle aspect, and the second part was for motor-cars. I don’t know what the thinking is other than perhaps he will be circulating along motorways and should know the rules for that. Both examinations must be sat on the same day at different times. Most people fail them both, or pass one and fail the other. Nathaniel passed them both on the first try.

Then came the practical test for the bike that was difficult enough then, but has become even more difficult today. He passed that on the first try. So far, so good! He is showing off his Carmichael mettle.

That was almost two years ago. He has had to wait until attaining his eighteenth birthday before he could go anywhere trying his hand at driving a car. Having already passed the theory test he had only to successfully complete the car practical. He has worked hard, both with myself and with the driving instructor from the school. Here in Spain we are not allowed to enter the road system with a student driver, as is the case in Britain. Therefore, experience comes very expensively as every time out has to be paid for. There are so many little things that can go wrong to trip the student up.

The first one is nerves. Even I, a veteran driver of over 50 years felt a rush of nerves as I thought wouldn’t it be so embarrassing if I were to fail after having been a driver for so long. The fact is that most experienced people would fail had they to take a new test. We build up such a list of bad habits and they come into play when the driving gets tough. Those are the things the examiner looks for in such drivers.

I digress to tell the tale of the lady friend who had to be tested for a Spanish license and just couldn’t get a passing grade. So, on her fourth try she had a vodka and tonic before the test and sailed right through.

There were several things that conspired to foul me when I was being tested. Firstly the examiner had me turn left through a purpose built break in the median, something I would never do on my own, but I did it to his satisfaction. Then, while driving along the one-way street I came upon a truck parked partly on a pedestrian crossing. I couldn’t see whether anyone was using it so I stopped as though it was in use. Just as well as out stepped a lady while I was stationary. Then as I proceeded a small dog ran out between the cars, but my calm speed made sure I was not going to hit it. Then, I had to turn away from the lane that I had been instructed to drive as the police had cordoned it off, and that put me in a proper fix to get back on track. But, all was accomplished with aplomb as I had long stopped worrying about my passenger.

For our son to pass his practical on the first try gave him a perfect track record, which is something of a rarity, and for us we are so very proud of him. That augurs well for his chosen path in life. At the moment he is keen of working in medicine. It is clear to us that when he puts his mind to something he can get it right.

So I think that we can expect great things from our young man. Australia will help to shape him and the future for him looks rosy and bright. I think he can be whatever he decides he wants to be.

Good luck Nathaniel! We love you and you do us proud!


Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael

Another Cautionary Tale

Driving in Spain

A friend called me recently while somewhat distressed. A Guardia Civil officer was in the process of writing her a ticket because she was carrying something in her boot that was too large, and consequently she was travelling with the boot open. It was on this basis that she was fined. However, a re-reading of the Highway Code does not show this as an offence. Fundamentally, the law wants us to employ a van or truck when we have items of such volume that would make this necessary and common sense. We are allowed to carry certain goods on the top of our cars, even if they protrude to the front and extend to the back.

What then is so special about travelling only with the boot firmly closed? The answer could be that under such circumstances the car is pulling inside poisonous carbon monoxide. However, this can be offset somewhat by opening all the car windows so that it won’t likely kill those inside, but nonetheless an effect could be that of impairing the driver’s concentration.

We cannot see any other reason for the officer making out a ticket, so perhaps he was in reality making an effort to save the lives of people. I’m sure that the way things work in Spain not every officer would see this as an offence, but it is worth be aware that unlike England and America where no one thinks twice about driving with the boot open, but Spain is apparently different.

Copyright © 2009 Eugene Carmichael