Driving in Italy - Turning Tuscan: A Step-by-Step Guide to Going Native - page 113

a couple of the cars between you and the putt-putt, and all is going well until the repeated
blink ofhighbeams catches yourattention. Aglance at yourrear-view mirror showsaMer-
cedesapproachingatthespeedoflight.Whenyou'redriving50mphandyourspeedometer
is inching its way toward 60 and the car behind you is approaching at 120 mph, you know
exactly how a rabbit feels when it's just sitting on the road waiting to be transformed into
road kill.
The experience impresses two profound truths deeply into your awareness. First and fore-
most, you realize that if you want to avoid such near-death experiences, you need to always
monitor what's behind you. Second, you are struck by the brilliance of the German auto
manufacturers in basing their product recognition precisely on this near-death experience.
How so? A Mercedes seen from the side or rear may resemble other vehicles, but a Mer-
cedes seen in your rear-view mirror is instantly identifiable: that big silver metallic grill
bearing down on you tells you at a glance that a Mercedes is coming, and you better get out
of the way if you value your life.
Everything may change in the design specs, but you can bet that the grill will never be
touched.(Andisn'titinterestinghowthatgrillresemblesthecow-punchesthatwereplaced
on the front of the old locomotives to get rid of stray cattle that wandered onto the tracks?)
On the highway all pretense of social equality disappears: there are the underpowered who
risk life and limb when they try to pass; the middle class who can move somewhat more
gingerly when they need to; and the Masters of the Road who zoom by at outrageously il-
legal speeds so that they can get to Grandma's house for dinner in record time.
Someday, if your business thrives or your investments do well or you win the lottery, you
too could join the ranks of those who scream down the left lane with headlights blazing
while the small-fry scurry for cover…
***
Once you're off the Italian freeway, you can relax a bit—but not too much. There are still a
couple of other driving practices that you are very likely to encounter that will help to age
you prematurely.
Scenario one: you're driving along a winding country road enjoying the exquisite beauty of
a landscape of interlaced woodlands, vineyards and olive groves. All of a sudden someone
starts to tailgate you in an extremely aggressive manner. You speed up a bit, and so do they,
allthewhilemaintaining adistancebehindyouofabouttwofeet—eventhoughyou'renow
driving around 45 miles per hour. Just when you're wondering whether you should seek