Crime and other statistics in Ecuador

Great article Joseph.
I spent two weeks in Ec recently and loved it.
I quickly realized that the drivers have the right of way (or at least assumed they did). I made sure that I stayed out of their way and had no problems at all. This compared to the NA attitude where typically the pedestrians have the right of way philosophy. Step off the curb and figure that the on coming drive sees you (or not)  and the loser is always the pedestrian. I found Ec a refreshing change. Lol, albeit scary at times but you know it's your responsibility to get out of their way and you can most of the time get out of their way faster than they can get out of your way.
Just my two cents anyways.

Really Karlos, you are banned and you still persist in advertising on this forum. That is rather self-serving and disrespectful of those posting here. Have you consider that this behavior will not make you look very good and might cause people to not trust you? In fact, it might cause the kind of negative repetition you might not want. Just something for you to consider Karlos.

Joseph K wrote:

Really Karlos, you are banned and you still persist in advertising on this forum. That is rather self-serving and disrespectful of those posting here. Have you consider that this behavior will not make you look very good and might cause people to not trust you? In fact, it might cause the kind of negative repetition you might not want. Just something for you to consider Karlos.

Not to be confused with Carlos "with a C"" ...

   Carlos   aka "ElGringoBueno" 

PS   Karlos, Joseph makes a good point,  Perhaps you'll find a way to support the site with a paid advertisement [Business Directory, Classified Ad, etc.] and then the clients you've satisfied having met them in that manner, can refer you as they see fit, in response to future inquiries on the site.
.

Joseph,

I'm pleasantly surprised that as as expat/pensionado I will be able to vote.

Even more reason to aprender espanol ...

    Carlos   aka  "ElGringoBueno"

PS   I finally posted something without a boatload of smileys and parentheses ...

PPS   However, still haven't kicked the "ellipsis monkey" off my back ...

Comparisons based on international statistics should be taken with much salt. Countries use different definitions of crimes, death types, etc.; local officials may have reason to fudge numbers that cause distortions when rolled up to the national level; and many other problems.

Nonetheless, with that caveat, I enjoy reading such stats.

After a year in the Philippines, I no longer assume any driver is going to stop for any reason, including red lights. I almost got killed a few times before realizing that cars don't stop at a red before turning right, even if a pedestrian is crossing.

An old high school teacher once told me, "Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is exciting, but what they cover up is essential."

Can't speak for Ecuador, but have always found that most places I have visited petty theft is much higher and more common than stats say. Imagine often times the crime is never reported by victim, or especially if smaller town the proper paper work never gets filled out.

Can't speak for Ecuador again, but in regards to driving have also found if one is driving they need to be very careful going around blind corners. Can't tell you how many times have seen someone passing a car around a corner, or even how many times have seen someone coming straight at me around a corner.

j600rr wrote:

An old high school teacher once told me, "Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is exciting, but what they cover up is essential."

Reminds me of a college teacher who was asked how long the term paper he was assigning needed to be: "Like a woman's skirt -- long enough to cover the most important items, but short enough to maintain interest."

Either of them would be immediately fired today.

j600rr wrote:

Can't speak for Ecuador, but have always found that most places I have visited petty theft is much higher and more common than stats say. Imagine often times the crime is never reported by victim, or especially if smaller town the proper paper work never gets filled out.

As you say, probably true everywhere, but doubly so in third-world countries where police are often understaffed, poorly equipped, and (consequently) ineffective. Even crime that goes beyond 'petty' is often not reported here, because the attitude is "Why bother? It won't do any good anyway."

Joseph K wrote:

What is an issue for everyone is crossing a street. I almost got hit three times before I learned my  lesson. Ecuadorian drivers do not give way to pedestrians.

Would you go so far as to say this applies to all of Latin America? Because I've heard it about Mexico, too.

Have to say this is one of those "different culture" things that I will never, ever understand. Okay, so a pedestrian doesn't have the right-of-way. I get that. But (pretending I am the driver now) am I REALLY just going to plow my car into someone on the street, because I can? Or is it that they don't bother to look, and so just don't see them in time to avoid mowing them down?

From my experiences in different Latin American countries the whole driving thing pretty much applies in all of them. For that matter would say every third world country have been that the crazy driving has been an issue. Oddly enough it makes no sense in Latin America, where as anyone who has lived in a Latin American country knows that the people are never in a rush to do anything. Yet the term maniac drivers is a pretty common term for their driving. Just look both ways, and then look both ways again.

dreams-of-latin-america wrote:

Okay, so a pedestrian doesn't have the right-of-way. I get that. But (pretending I am the driver now) am I REALLY just going to plow my car into someone on the street, because I can? Or is it that they don't bother to look, and so just don't see them in time to avoid mowing them down?

The driver here is always asserting the right of way. As they drive, if someone is near the curb, looking like they want to cross, the drive blows his horn as a warning. Everyone here understands that. But the turning situation is a bit different.

The driver is approaching from behind the pedestrian, but does not know the intention the pedestrian or when he or she might step out into the road. But still, recklessly, the driver just proceeds around the corner. That behavior is very hard to understand. But, things are simply what they are. The solution in every country is to develop strategies to avoid this crazy behavior. The problem for expats is that don't know those strategies (or that they are even necessary) and have to learn them, hopefully before they suffer the consequences.

Here is what I now do: if it is not a one-way street which cars cannot turn into, I always cross further down from the corner so I can see if a car is turning. It is easier to glance sideways than to turn completely around. Even then, without a blinker, you have no idea of the intention of the driver until they actually turn. This strategy is perhaps a little inconvenient, but it works.

Since I am on to strategies, let me explain one possible danger and the strategy to avoiding it. This happens in Guayaquil more than any other city. Cabs will sometimes have an arrangement with a another person. After they pick you up, they then stop to pick up this second person who proceeds to rob you (within the privacy and shelter of the cab so even daytime is not safe)

If you are in a cab, and the cab driver stops to pick someone up (something he/she should not do) immediately step out of the cab. I usually sit behind the cab driver and keep my belongings in my lap to make this easier. Then go to the cabbie's window and hand them a few dollars (whatever the fare might have been - don't worry about overpaying in this case). Walk away immediately; do not get back into that cab under any circumstances. Hail another cab or walk into a business.

If you need to put things in the cab's trunk, have someone call for a cab instead of hailing one off the street. Calling a cab is much safer than hailing one. I don't take these precautions in Loja, but most definitely do in Guayaquil or if I have to carry something very valuable.

Interesting. I have always been an agressive pedestrian when it comes to claiming the right-of-way, but then I'm also always ready to jump out of the way if I lose the battle.

j600rr wrote:

From my experiences in different Latin American countries the whole driving thing pretty much applies in all of them.

The Philippines (probably because of the Spanish colonial influence) is very much a Latin American country in many, many ways -- driving being one of them. I did a blog post on the Philippine driving test (too long to repost here).

Bob

Bob,
That is verbatim the same test as given here in Cuenca, only they left one out:

When you see a pedestrian in a crosswalk, you should.

a) slow down and give them the right of way.
b) honk
c) honk and speed up
d) speed up and swerve in an attempt to ding them

Good post. Happy to see it doesn't only occur here!

Thanks, Neil. Hmmm, I wonder how the Philippines forgot that question? Maybe they just thought it was too basic.

It looks like I'll feel right at home in Ecuador.

j600rr wrote:

An old high school teacher once told me, "Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is exciting, but what they cover up is essential."

George Bernard Shaw said  "There's liars, there's damn liars, and there's statistics."

ZenSPIKE wrote:

Bob,
That is verbatim the same test as given here in Cuenca, only they left one out:

When you see a pedestrian in a crosswalk, you should.

a) slow down and give them the right of way.
b) honk
c) honk and speed up
d) speed up and swerve in an attempt to ding them

Good post. Happy to see it doesn't only occur here!

Neil: I saw this on Gringo Tree's newsletter today. Please check
out these new crosswalks and let us now if they are any more effective in stopping traffic.

The Cuenca Transit Authority is installing new pedestrian crossings in high-traffic areas of the city. The crossings stop vehicular traffic in all directions to allow pedestrians to cross busy streets.

Bob,
I'll tell you what, I won't be the first to test this new concept. There are crosswalks already in place all over the city. Drivers do not even notice them. If you are in a crosswalk, expect the driver to proceed through it, and make his turn, or continue on through. It is the first lesson of survival here. When I first visited, I assumed those little stripes in the road meant something, and damned near got creamed.
" Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me " is the mantra of survival for the pedestrian here.
Never assume red means stop, or those stripes mean you are safe to cross.
I think this a ploy by the hospitals here to " drive " up business! < grin >
Eyes Wide Open in Cuenca
Neil

ZenSPIKE wrote:

Bob,
I'll tell you what, I won't be the first to test this new concept.
[ ... ]
I think this a ploy by the hospitals here to " drive " up business! < grin >
Eyes Wide Open in Cuenca
Neil

LOL. Too bad, because I was counting on you to be the guinea pig cuy.

I've filled that role too many times in the past. I'm learning.
What amazes me is how crafty the street dogs are in timing their crossings. Much to be learned via the mutts. They just weave through the traffic, as if they know the rhythm and flow before it happens.
Geez, I just admitted dogs are smarter than me!!
Stay Well,
Neil

I forgot all about that. It was very impressive how they were able to navigate. Of course I'm talking about the dogs here. Lol.