Crime is a serious problem here but the biggest threat to visitors and foreign residents is a traffic accident. Traffic is heavy in Buenos Aires, drivers are aggressive, and accidents are common. An abnormally high number of these accidents involve pedestrians. Tourists are subject to street crime but have reported few incidents with public transportation (other than pickpockets) or at four- and five-star hotels. If confronted by an armed robber, be sure to have cash and hand it over immediately; victims are most often harmed when they have nothing to steal. Use remises (private car and driver) or radio taxis (black and yellow in metropolitan Buenos Aires, or white and blue in the province). Pay taxis and kiosks with small bills because vendors have trouble breaking large notes and may give counterfeit money for change.
