Hi Bill, maybe there is some kind of occult order in traffic here (I think it is that the stronger survives) but honestly I think it shows the worst of us. Traffic is also the place where tensions are shown.
People do not use the turn lights, drive fast in corners, do not respect the crossing lines (senda peatonal), will accelerate on you if lights turn green, will pass although you are in the middle of the street, etc.
Safer than in Canada? LOL. When I was there strange things happened to me. Once I was to cross a street and a car was stopped. Why is he not moving I though?. Then I realised he was waiting for me to cross!. People go first there, here cars go first, or die. Another (in Vancouver maybe you are from there, beautifull place!, I think if you are from Canada it must shock you the lack of order here. In the pics i tok there it surprises me that I can´t se any paper on the floor), I was to cross, a car passes and immediately I start to cross, he stops, I think he was afraid I was in the street when he was still passing. In a small town, nobody around, I cross the street maybe far from the crossing lines or with the wrong light, a man tells me something I do not understand but I think who cares if there is no car/person around?.
Another serious problem I see here are dogs (or dog owners to be correct). Worse now that dangerous dogs are in fashion.
In general people here do not care of public spaces.
I also see people throwing all kind of things. Once in a bus I saw how a girl after eating an apple threw the core through the window (in downtown).