Living and acting. Like Italians.

Maybe once or twice. In all my time in Italy. Have I passed a vehicle on the highways. And then, I suspect, it was only a pokey foreign driver. Not an Italian. Italians don't believe in speed limits. They are fast and furious. On the road, that is. Which goes contrary to the stereotypical Italian image. Italians are usually portrayed as laid-back. Slow. Methodical. In no hurry to get things done.  They even close up shop. From 1 to 4 in the afternoon. Virtually everything shuts down.  Imagine that happening in America. Won't happen. Because Americans try to stay busy. Twenty-four hours a day.  Making money, money and more money. No time for a break. But on the road, Italians are a different species. They always seem to be in a hurry. And aggressive. They sneak in. Ahead of each other. Trying for a two-second advantage at every turn. I pretty much stay 10 miles over the speed limit. Knowing I can get away with it. But Italians zoom at double and triple over the limit.  At little risk of being arrested. The caribineri have better things to do. Than to curb speeders. After all, they're all Italians.  Living and acting. Like Italians. --Jim Broede