Where in the World is Cat?

Though politics is still stuck in the gutter here and the government continues to modernize at the rate of molasses, other things seem to be moving forward quite rapidly. Two of the best examples I've seen thus far come in unlikely form.

Anyone who's spent some time in Russia or any region of the former Soviet Union will tell you that getting in a car is taking a risk with your life. Some 250,000 people die yearly in Russia due to motor vehicule accidents, which is over five times the roughly 43,000 motor vehicle accident deaths we see in the US. Take into account that the US population is roughly double that of Russia and this statistic becomes even more alarming.

This is due to a few factors, most notably the boom of car ownership in Russia over the last 15 years. But, there are other factors in play. There is of course the overwhelming problem of alcoholism and alcohol consumption, and the lack of traffic law enforcement. Driving with a Russian can be very much like driving with an 80 year-old speed demon with no knowledge of current traffic law who has free reign of the roads.

Traffic cops in Russia are regarded to be on the lowest level of society, for the fact that their jobs do not serve any other purpose but to increase their measely pay. Most traffic cops pull people over to bribe them, and this is how it works. If you do actually get pulled over for a violation, your penalty is a fine of whatever amount that cop feels like asking for...but usually it is nothing serious if we compare it to US fines.

However, there is hope! After getting out of a movie the other night with some girlfriends, we decided to catch a cab home. Yes, I know that I just compared getting in a car with Russian roulette, but that is life in Russia, and I didn't feel like walking 4 blocks in the cold, much less at night, then having a 30 minute bus ride home. (A cab for this right would cost me approximately $8 - so cheap!) After getting into the car, my friends and I were promptly told to buckle up. Buckle up? Was I still in Russia?

Wearing a seat belt in Russia (or any other country in the former Soviet Union, for that matter) is taken as an insult to the driver or a lack of faith in God. I usually wait until the driver has started driving and isn't paying attention before I click mine on, but I have never been told to wear one. Though I gladly obeyed, I couldn't help but ask why out of curiousity. "Well," responded our gruffy driver from the South Caucasus, "unless you've got 500 roubles to pay for yourself, and other 500 to pay for me, then you've got to wear one." Seems that Russia is starting to figure it out. Apparently, along with the placement of recycling machines on the streets, a stricter seatbelt law was passed in January. Now, not only does the driver get fined, but the passenger as well. And, the fine itself is considerably larger, over three times the usually 150 ($6) roubles that is standard. This is good both for the safety of those riding in vehicles, and (this is key) considerably more profitable for the Russian traffic cops. Ahh, you just gotta love Russia.

So, though ever so slowly, things are getting better here. Once the sun comes out from its 6 month vacation, I'm sure I'll be seeing many things in a new light. Tomorrow night I'm off to check out a new Russian conversation group for expats...oh, the adventures of living abroad. Miss you all!