I was just think that the MLB had not lost a player this year in the DR.
Very sad one every year. RIP
Very sad one every year. RIP
In a bitter twist of fate, Marte’s final MLB game was against the Royals, whose starting pitcher that day in August 2014 was Ventura.
Yeah, we're pretty shocked here in KC. Not many here know how dangerous the Dominican highways are. A growing memorial of flowers, candles and photographs has sprung up outside Kauffman Stadium. The Royals have lowered the team flag to half-staff. Spring training is only weeks away but this will really, really hit us every fifth day when the season starts and that skinny kid ain't around to light up the radar gun.
Yeah, we're pretty shocked here in KC. Not many here know how dangerous the Dominican highways are. A growing memorial of flowers, candles and photographs has sprung up outside Kauffman Stadium. The Royals have lowered the team flag to half-staff. Spring training is only weeks away but this will really, really hit us every fifth day when the season starts and that skinny kid ain't around to light up the radar gun.
like buying a gun and playing Russian roulette ...pure stupidity
When I first came here ten years ago I actually enjoyed driving here. The roads weren't completely congested and I could arrive at my destination without getting caught in traffic, or stopping at hundreds of traffic lights, or having to watch my speed in case I was going too fast. I liked the idea that I could have a beer or two and drive myself home.
The downside of this was of course that everyone else drove with impunity. Especially the motorcyclists. However during these last ten years I have seen things deteriorate to the point where I no longer enjoy driving here. My observation is that Dominicans have transposed their egocentric culture to the roads. Here are a few examples of them:
If you stop at a red traffic light, a taxi will overtake the line of traffic waiting at the light and run the red light.
Taxi and guagua drivers just stop and pull out wherever they want with no regard to other road users or using their indicators.
Truck drivers usually drive very slowly in the middle of the road. Many are spewing their cargo into the path of other vehicles, i.e. gravel, sand, water, garbage etc.
If there is a blockage in the road, they will not queue up patiently and let the traffic flow in single file. Instead they will make five lanes of traffic in both directions causing complete gridlock. Ambulances and emergency services would not have a hope in hell getting through to the scene of an accident.
Night time driving has become very perilous with the advent of LED lightbars. They have no idea that blinding someone in the opposite direction is very dangerous.
The current road conditions are abysmal and there seems no impetus to get them fixed. After all, we've just had an election.
And finally, my observation of the most obvious reason for the decline in road manners is that cars have become affordable to the masses. Cars used to be very expensive here. No uneducated working class Dominican could ever dream of owning a car. But now they can. So we now have to contend with a new dynamic of more inconsiderate, ignorant, moronic idiots behind the wheel instead of handlebars.
Perhaps a fatality of a high profile nature like this might stir something in the powers-that-be. You never know, if famous people keep dying on the roads in the DR, they might do something to make them a little safer.
But having said that, what amount of enforcement can stop a rich young show-off Dominican ball player getting loaded up on booze and trying to impress his chica on how hard he can press the loud pedal of his brand new shiny sports car?
And this is different from say the U.S. or many other countries how?
As bad as their driving habits are, Dominicans do not have a monopoly on stupid people continuing to be stupid when the get behind the wheel of a car. This happens everywhere. I would post some stats from other countries but I think that would cause the thought police here to delete the post so will refrain.
My concerns for driving in the DR are more the problems that will come about if one survives the accident in terms of dealing with the police and the court system. Accidents are unfortunately just that and outside of taking basic precautions if it's your day to be in an accident unfortunately their probably is not much you can do to avoid it. Of course basic precautions would include not drinking and driving.
BTW nice that you were at one time able to enjoy your beers and then drive yourself home...seems ironic given the topic of the thread.