I had just paid for the repairs on the truck and updated the insurance (for third parties only) in town. Now I was on my way back to the base where I lived. I know the road well now, having both walked and driven it many times during the last six months since moving here. I also knew the drivers in this city, who drive like crazy around blind corners. So I guess I should have been ready for what came next. Passing sewage installations along the now extra-narrow road, I approach the edge of the city where one big and very long road leads out to our isolated suburb called the "Quintas". A three-way Y-type intersection, few cars manage to reach this far out of town so it remains relatively quiet. Even so, I slow down before reaching it, knowing that danger lurks around every corner... and so it was this day too. Just as I reach the corner, an old blue Toyota Landcruiser appeared at quite a fast pace, trying to negotiate the corner towards me. The problem was that there was not enough room for both of us down this road. Incredibly, when the driver saw me it was as though he actually started aiming for me. I slammed on the brakes, but the gravel under the wheels did little to help me against the momentum that I still had. As my vehicle slowed, I realised that the other was not slowing even a little. Worse, its trajectory was directly towards the front quarter of my car, and only metres remained before I would hear that fateful "crunch" of metal upon metal. I could not wait for the driver to take evasive action. He was obviously without any form of serious control. Even before the truck had stopped, I slammed it hard into reverse and gunned the engine. Gravel spat everywhere and clouds of dust rose up in protest. Time stood still as I watched the next two seconds pass in slow motion. The old Landcruiser hurtled toward the front of my truck. Only centimetres from impact the truck finally dug into the ground and started reversing. The other vehicle continued ahead as I headed backwards, following the curve of the front bumper with barely room to squeeze a hand between the two. He passed me, and there was no contact. The other vehicle hits a pile of dirt left by the diggings from the sewage installations and finally stops. Pausing for a moment I looked over at the other driver who just smiled and shrugged. "No tengo frenos." He says in Spanish, telling me that his vehicle has no brakes. I stare at him, wondering if he realises just how close he was to colliding with me, decide to say nothing, and take off. This is not an isolated incident over here, but it certainly was the closest to an accident. There are a number of vehicles here that have serious mechanical problems such as no brakes what-so-ever or problems with their steering. Many more are just really old. So it pays to be watching out always.