Larry Paulick wrote:
>
> Hi Group. We just got in last night from a week in Germany, and a week
> in England. Thought I would pass on some car related stuff to the group.
>
snip
Larry,
Some of my recollections from driving in Europe are very similiar. In
Germany and Austria the driving style looked to me to be very precise.
A big difference that I noted was the higher level of communication
between drivers. Using headlights and turn signals allows good safe
flow. Maybe it is because this becomes critically important at the
speeds on the Autobahn. I quickly learned to carefully (!) check side
view mirrors before passing a car. A few experiences of overtaking a
slow moving truck (I was approaching at maybe 70 mph, the truck maybe
50mph) and having a vehicle show up on my bumper like RIGHT NOW is very
good at teaching these things. Going 70 - 75 mph and having a Mercedes
or Porsche approaching at 130mph is good at getting my attention!
I noted drivers use much more of the full capabilities of the vehicle.
More full throttle acceleration and much harder braking than is my
experience in the US. I could see why the market there develops high
performance capability much more than in the US market.
There was a beer fest in Austria in October, as I walked to my hotel
room I passed by a road check. Policemen were running a sobriety check
as cars left the festivities. They take their driving seriously.
Upon my return to the US, I drove to work on our wonderful, wide
freeways crawling at aout 60 mph. The stark difference was amazing.
Drivers matching speeds across all four lanes. The idea of slower
traffic moves to the right is lost here. One hand on the sterring wheel
while fiddling with the radio, makeup, drinking coffee or daydreaming
was the norm. What a difference.
Thanks for sharing Larry.
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