Not beating on a dead horse or anything...

"BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion" (pbs)
07/16/2014 at 19:43 • Filed to: None

But the statistics of traffic violations for Argentinian drivers during the world cup is simply staggering... of the 8 thousand cars that crossed the border, over 2200 were fined at some point during their stay in Brazil and at least half of those were ticketed multiple times. There was a large number of cars with plates removed or altered in some other form, but no numbers were given during the news, and at least one WTF fatality involving drivers from Argentina.

Seriously Argentina, what the hell? How about showing some respect when traveling abroad?

DISCUSSION (12)

duurtlang > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
07/16/2014 at 19:50

You could read these statistics multiple ways. Maybe the Argentinians misbehaved. Maybe Brazilian policed harassed the Argentinians. Maybe both. Who knows?

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > duurtlang
07/16/2014 at 19:59

That's true, highway police here in the state is a bunch of assholes... but I've had more than my fair share of nasty encounters with argentinian drivers and, while the numbers may be a bit exaggerated due to overpatrolling, I doubt it's just that...

duurtlang > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
07/16/2014 at 20:13

I honestly don't know. I'm a bit conflicted about the Argentinians. On the one side they didn't really deserve to reach the finals, on the other side I do like my Argentinian born queen (despite not supporting monarchy)

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > duurtlang
07/16/2014 at 20:18

I know right... When I went to Buenos Aires a while ago, everyone seemed genuinely nice, if a bit cranky in case of the older folks, but the people that come here... It's hard to believe they come from the same place!

Telumektar > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
07/16/2014 at 21:06

I would have in mind why you would drive MANY a kilometre in your own car to a foreign country with a different language in one of the busiest times ever, it's neither easy, nor cheap... unless you are sleeping in it and bolting back in it as fast as you can after the match... half drunk I would guess.

But first I would think about why not taking a plane in the first place, if it wasn't about money, a place to sleep or ticket availability I would think it may have something to do with border control.

Airports and their customs were supposedly being heavily monitored during the cup and before that even, in part to keep hooligans/barrabravas out of the cup, Argentinas' more than those from any other country. It was also said that border controls were far more complicated to monitor so many unwanted chose to travel by bus and some on their own cars.

That's why I think Argentinian driver may have been more prone to misbehaving, that and just the way they drive in most of Bs.As.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Telumektar
07/16/2014 at 21:08

Yeah, that's actually another point I didn't really feel like touching, but the media has it that the majority of tourists coming in from Argentina weren't exactly well off. Or had jobs. So I figure a plane was out of the question for most, and so was getting ticketed...

Telumektar > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
07/16/2014 at 21:18

I doubt many were in a bad economic position, people with normal (in Mercosur) jobs can't afford going to the World Cup just like that. But it's normal that Argentinians were many in number, they are many, are crazy for football and had a chance at the Cup.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Telumektar
07/16/2014 at 21:24

Take this with a grain of salt, but word has it most of them didn't afford to go to the matches. They just... came. There were several of them camped out of their cars near the Fifa fan fest in Porto Alegre because they couldn't afford to stay in a hotel, for example, so I'm pretty sure a lot of those guys didn't make it to the matches.

Telumektar > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
07/16/2014 at 22:09

Supposedly around 80% of their fans didn't got to buy tickets. But that may have a lot to do with the incredible price they went for in first place (reselling prices were insane IMO)

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Telumektar
07/16/2014 at 22:57

That too. I think they were selling for 500 bucks, maybe more... Not that I was planning on buying any, but still...

Telumektar > BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion
07/17/2014 at 00:06

1/8 and 1/4 went for 1k, semis between 1k and 2k and the final was upwards 2000 dollars

Cah-wrey-zee!!!

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Telumektar
07/17/2014 at 00:10

Mother of god, and to think some of my colleagues actually spent class time refreshing the sales pages to get tickets for the matches in Porto Alegre. I swear, I've no idea where those kids get this kind of money!