Unexpected python behaviour

[Jay O'Connor]

Richard Philips wrote:

> Consider the script:
>
> def test(drivers={}):
>    if drivers:
>        print drivers
>    else:
>        drivers["A"] = "B"
>
> if __name__  == "__main__":
>    test()
>    test()
>
> prints in stdout:
> {'A': 'B'}
>
> I expected that nothing would be displayed.
> I do not understand this behaviour (python2.3 on WinXP and Linux).
>
> If anybody can explain this situation, you are welcome. 


That caught me by suprise to, especially because  after running it, 
'drivers' is not defined