Posted on 08/14/2014 5:39:21 PM PDT by WesternCulture
I used to consider myself a very competent driver.
One day back in 2010, I accelerated my precious 200 hp Volvo V70 out of a boring ferry departing from a Danish harbor and felt I was ready for the legendary Autobahn.
Rather immediately though, I got stopped by a bunch of German highway police officers.
"Most welcome to Germany, but take it easy", I got told (off).
I soon forgot all about these words.
10 minutes later I nearly caused an accident because I failed to understand there was a que developing just one kilometer ahead of me. However, several German drivers cooperated in correcting my behavior in a very impressive manner.
Somewhere along that road I came to understand:
1. You are not your car. Don't overestimate yourself. Just because you master plenty of hp's doesn't mean you're an excellent driver. 2. Highway patrol officers probably know what they're on about. Respect them. 3. Try and understand the differences in "driving culture". As you're not a London taxi driver nor a test driver for Koenigsegg, Lamborghini or McLaren, don't make a fool of yourself. Fitting in is not always a bad option.
Anyhow, could you, as a driver, handle the Autobahn/European highways like these guys? (Check out clips below)
I remember doing close to 90 in the slow lane and a big old Benz zapped by me at warp 5. I swear the bow wake blew me over a couple of feet.
Yep, in USA ya got a whole lot of controlling people who like to “meter” the flow of traffic, by staying in the #1 lane at or below the speed limit...
In Germany, they’d have a real quick wake up call if they pulled that stupid s**t.
Ya see this not only pisses a lot of people off, but causes lots of accidents when others using the #1 lane get frustrated and have to change lanes and pass the control freaks.
Starting at a young age, drove professionally all over Europe and other countries and was trained in evasive maneuver techniques etc...That was quite a ride...
My school district actually had driver’s ed as a required class in our Sophomore year. Our instructor was a former Formula 1 and Indy Car racer.
Myself and a couple other guys in the class had already had our licenses for a while and he considered us pretty good drivers. (high praise)
One day he selected us out of the class to ride with him the next day. He took us out on gravel roads and taught us how to “drift” corners and recover from skids. Fun day!
And yes, many traffic jams and accidents are caused by stupid drivers trying to (meter) the speed of traffic. Plus the whole “MERGE” thing is lost on Americans. It took me a few years to break my wife of awful habits, but I did. Now she uses lights to “flash” truckers that they’re clear, she merges properly, and knows how to use the cruise control.
Sounds fun... In the U.S. they’ll give anyone driver’s license...Even those in their 80s being treated for dementia...More money for the DMV and State etc....It’s incredible.
Take care.
OMG - Can I handle the AutoBahn? Are you kidding? - Can you handle the NY State Thruway?
1) Both are high speed highways. NYT-has posted speed limit signs. AB - Only occassionly- like coming into and out of cities.
2) On Both, no matter how fast you are going, someone is going to blow your doors off at a higher speed.
3) On Both roads, there is no visible police.
Main Difference - No NY plated cars to go real slow in front of you.
Didn’t know about the NY State Thruway.
Thanks for educating me and greetings from Sweden!
Hell, I’m listening to .38 Special right now.
I’ll bet the UK has nothing to do with that.
Fu*k the UK. They should be thankful Putin isn’t their boss.
The only reason any European band made it is because they made it here!
I know that.
Lets let the rest of the World understand that.
We’ve got a liberal propagandist on FR, westernculture. She’s been posting nothing but pro-Europe, anti-American propaganda for years here.
Read later. When I was younger, I’d have figured Autobahn would be no big deal. Is NBD a popular acronym?
At first, I thought you meant bicycles.
Mbikes....
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