why would I drive slow?

When I first moved here and I tried to cross Turan Gunes, I would glare at the cars whizzing by - waiting, expectantly for them to slow down and allow me to cross.  My New York bit, kept my eyes open and head on a swivel, but my New Jersey bit carried this expectation that the pedestrian had the right away, and this self-righteous claim was shield enough when eyeing down an aggressive driver.  I mean, it's a hard one to break coming from small towns where traffic is required to stop at crosswalks, where pedestrians have the right away, and where the law comes down harshly on anyone who doesn't adhere.

Driving too, I would tsk and shake my head at them for making a left turn from right lane.  Backing up on a highway for a missed exit.  Running red lights.  Going the wrong way.  Speeding and flashing lights.  Weaving in and out of traffic.  And so on.

My friend told me early on to let go of these expectations because you'll only get frustrated and mad. It was good advice.  This is also why Turkish drivers are pretty good - they expect anything to happen on the road.

But I don't expect, anymore pedestrians to have the right of way.  In fact, visiting Minnesota last summer I almost hit one.  The man sauntered right off the sidewalk into the street, looking neither left nor right - and he told me off about it too.

This morning, and almost every morning, I see American administrators outside waving at parents driving into the circle to drop off their children.  And every morning they wave, say good morning, and tell me how crazy Turkish drivers are, how they almost go hit, how fast they drive.

This morning, I watched the man jump in front of a car and dramatical motion and scream for the driver to slow down.
I can imagine the parents shock that a) he was being yelled at and b) at the idea of going too fast (because its all relative, I guess).
I have to say - it was the Americans that looked ridiculous.  I mean, even the police don't bother - so why would an American principal?  And what is too fast?  There is no speed limit posted (not that it would matter), there is no one monitoring anywhere else.  What exactly do they expect?  Yes, it's crazy, yet it's dangerous, but it's their expectation that is out of place here.