Peckster

That's how it's SUPPOSED to work over here too. Too bad so few people know it.

hinch951

Peckster: I hear ya on that one!!

sweanders

Eh, don'tyou have to take a test to get your drivers license?

hinch951

yes, you have to be 18 years of age, and about I heard 4,000 US dollars/equivalent money in Germany. It is pretty serious over there. Imagine having a road like that here in the US, we have too many idiots out here. They consider it a "honor" to drive in Germany, and everyone there is exteremly serious about there driving. That is why the Germans said that they could never understand why we had cupholders, cause driving requires 100% concentration all the time....Makes sense to me!

ztnedman1

Im sure most of their drivers dont eat burger king, do make up, talk on the phone, read books or w/e else that american drivers love to do while driving. Also Americans drive alot more than Europeans in gerneral.

Laust Pedersen

Last year I flew into Munich rented an Audi A4 Avant 1.8TDI (1.8 liter, Turbo Diesel), drove to Italy (for the 40th anniversary of the Lambo factory) visited family in Denmark and flew out of Munich again, essentially driving through Germany twice.
As it turns out the 1.8TDI was cruising happily at 200kph and had a slightly uncomfortable 230kph top speed, which I briefly tried once. I think I filled up the tank only twice.

The new Autobahns in formerly East-Germany are wide and with little traffic (at least when I was there).
The Germans have also nailed Autobahn repair down to a structured event with well posted speed limits and diversions to the opposite half of the Autobahn.
If you run out of gas the police will give you 5 liters of gas and fine you 200 Euros for endangering the traffic (and lack of planning). Ordnung muss sein.

Laust

dime1622

i was going to mention this too. its an excellent show, you can get it here. ive seen it like 8 times

sweanders

Another thing that is interesting to know of is the sign language, the most used on is when you are in the fast lane closing in to someone doing a lower speed in the right or mid lane but is catching up to slower traffic. If the guyyou are catching up to lights up his brake light that means that you are being let by.

Thom

I see what you mean but usually the driver brakes as he is getting closer to a car in front and knows he is not fast enough to overtake said car without having you braking hard on his tail.

I once had a case of a slow VW driver on the right lane who put the turn signal on the right to "tell" me he had seen me and that I could overtake him with being sure he had seen me and that I should not worry (too much) about driving much faster than him.
(I certainly don't get such admirable behaviour in France )

smkn951

http://rmv.hqusareur.army.mil/drivrman/190-34.htm
try this link out, it explains laws and regulations in operating your pov in germany

hinch951

thanks alot!

Chipster

I'll have to throw my 2 cent in. I recently took the european driver's test. Unlike the standard test in the US, it's very difficult. Over 90% of the peole who take it fail on the first attempt. Of course this is reflected in the maturity level of most drivers on the Autobahn and other German roads.

Ztnedman1 was right. You don't see many people doing anything but driving the car when on the road. There can be huge speed differences between cars in different lanes on the Autobahn - you have to pay attention what what's going aon around you - pilots call it situation awareness. Something we need more of in the states.

A couple other facts - the German police can (and will) force you to submit to a blood alcohol/urinalysis test if they suspect you are imparied - something to avoid. And when speed limits signs are posted on the autobahn, everyone slows down - even the guy smoking along in his A8 will slow right down to the posted limit until past the restricted area - most drivers seem very disciplined that way. If you happen to be in a rental car and get your picture taken for exceeding the speed limit - the authorities will send the ticket to the rental agency and they, in turn, will charge it to your credit card - ask me how I know...

Chip

sweanders

Well, first of all there is no standard "European drivers license". All countries have their own set of rules. Within the EU there is a possibility to exchange your license from one EU-country to another if you change your living address for more than six months.

Regarding people sticking to the speed limit when it drops I don't seem to have driven on the same roads as you have. I find that the speed is often lowered somewhat but with most germans I have spoken the attitude is more that you can drive faster if the traffic situation is good.

autounion1

A little history as well, the autobahns were made to transport Hitler's trucks and military vehicles. As such, he made them out of concrete. They are extremely durable and very smooth. They require very little maintenence and are said to be the best material of any highways in the world. Most people travel in packs, so it is not uncommon to see three or four Mercedes shotting down the highway at very fast speeds. From my experience there, Mercedes-Benz dominate with Audi coming in a close second. James

Swedeboy

Errr..very smooth? Have you driven on a concrete autobahn lately? The joins between the concrete plates are often not smooth at all.

In terms of best material in the world...that's debatable - for example during rain concrete causes a lot of spray which you don't get with more modern open asphalt types.