Crash control

Walking to the Always Club tonight, I passed a mass of flashing lights, uniformed policemen and a large sign that read: "Control de Alcoholemia." It was an impressive display. On calle J. L. Borges, every five cars or so, one was whistled at and waved over for an officer to check if the driver was drunk.

At the Club (I mean, gym), I saw a government-sponsored PSA on TV telling viewers never to pass into oncoming traffic on a blind curve. A worthwhile message, no doubt.

I read last weekend about the radar checks of drivers' speeds on the highways that take porteños to the most popular beaches this side of Uruguay. I hadn't even realized there was a speed limit here. In fact, in my 20 months in Argentina (7 of those with a car), I'd never once seen a car get a traffic ticket.

So, bravo for the highly visible, accident-prevention measures on the highways and here on the city streets. What next? Stopping motorcycles from running red lights? Ok. I don't mean to make light of any efforts to prevent the seemingly endless stream of horrific traffic accidents. A sincere 'bravo' is in order.