“Who gave this one a license?”: Spaniards criticize driving in Miami and spark a debate

The Spanish content creator @ramonteli has once again set social media ablaze, this time with a video in which he harshly criticizes driving behavior in Miami. "I think they rank as some of the worst drivers I've ever seen in my life," the young man stated.

In his video, he mentioned that in the United States, "from the age of 15 with a legal guardian on the right, you can drive," and he added that "nobody uses turn signals; it's outrageous." His main criticism focused on the supposed ease of obtaining a driver's license: "I've been told that getting a license here is very easy... for $400 or $500, I've been told you pay that and you're good to go, and they practically give it to you."

Ramonteli also compared the situation to his home country. "In Spain, a driver's license costs you between 1,000 and 2,000 euros at a minimum," he stated, then added ironically: "For less than 1,000, it's impossible, unless your mother or father owns the driving school."

In an increasingly critical tone, he concluded: “It's not very hard to get suspended; you have to be really incompetent... and you see them on the street and think, ‘Goodness, who gave this person their license?’” He also stated that he has witnessed several accidents since moving to the city: “They crash into each other; I've seen several.”

"This is not the United States, this is Miami."

The post sparked a wave of comments that quickly went viral. Many users agreed that Miami has a serious driving problem. "Here in Miami is where people drive the worst in the country," wrote one. Another added: "This is a jungle; no one respects traffic lights, turn signals, or distance."

However, others corrected the tiktoker, claiming that their figures are not accurate. “The license costs $48, I don’t know who said $400,” replied one user, while another explained that “$400 will be for the school, which is not mandatory; I don't think the exam will even reach $100.”

Some users provided a broader perspective: "You leave Miami and it's a different story... this is where the madness is," while others pointed out that "this city is filled with people from many countries, and everyone wants to drive like they do in their own country." There were also comparisons to other cities around the world: "Come to Pakistan and you'll see," or "go to Rome, man."

Others defended the freedom of movement in the U.S. with irony: "Yes, they drive poorly, but here they enjoy cruising in an 8-cylinder Raptor; in your country, you don't even have a place to park the Citroën."

A recurring problem

The Spanish critique adds to previous complaints regarding traffic in Miami. According to a report by INRIX, published in March 2025, the city ranks as the eighth most congested in the United States, with an average of 74 hours lost per year per driver.

On its part, a study by the Life360 app, cited by NBC Miami, revealed that Miami and Fort Lauderdale are among the areas with the most dangerous driving behaviors, such as rapid accelerations, sudden braking, and distractions from mobile phones.

On social media, testimonials have also gone viral that align with the complaint of the Spanish creator. In September 2024, a Cuban woman expressed her frustration over the traffic chaos after being stuck for over an hour: “I'm at a point where I don't know whether to cry, get out of the car, and scream,” she said at that moment.

Last June, another Cuban expressed her frustration while driving on the Palmetto highway: “I’m insulted, I can’t wait to go home.” The woman claimed she took 47 minutes to cover 16 miles, which generated empathy among thousands of users on social media.

A character that provokes reactions

It's not the first time that the Spanish creator has sparked reactions on social media. Days before his criticisms about traffic, he published another video in which he commented on his surprise at the affectionate treatment from Cuban women in Miami. “You go to buy something and a 50-year-old lady says to you, ‘daddy, my love.’ And lady, I don't care if you're 50; I get excited faster than a phone on the beach,” he humorously expressed.

In that same recording, he stated that “in Spain, the cashier says to me: ‘Would you like a bag?’ And here they say: ‘Daddy, would you like a bag? My love, would you like a bag?’” Among the comments, some people ironically warned him: “Don’t get your hopes up, little Spaniard. We say ‘my love,’ ‘my life,’ ‘my heart’ even to the bread seller,” while others wrote: “Don’t go to Cuba, buddy, or we’ll lose you.” The tiktoker himself responded sarcastically to the number of messages he received: “Thank you, José, you have no idea how tough I’m having it.”

Her posts, filled with personal observations and cultural comparisons, have sparked ongoing debates about social and everyday customs in south Florida.

Frequently Asked Questions about Driving and Traffic in Miami