[tfecw]

Toss in the German car inspections compared to the American car "inspections" ;)

"Right blinker work? Tail lights work? Okay you pass"

Also if I remember correctly it's/was a heck of a lot harder/expensive to get a license over there. None of this 30 bucks for 7 years stuff.

I'd be interested in what the average person's top speed is when they are driving. I know some asshats are going to bomb down the road where the limit is what their car can do, and grandma and grandpa will putt along at 40 regardless. I've found myself topping out at 80ish regardless of the speed limit. Even down in Texas when it was 75 i think i may have done 85. I honestly couldn't see myself going any faster than that for any sustained length of time. I wonder what the average driver would do?

[rwfromkansas]

I normally can't stand to go more than 85. It just gets too scary after that for me.

And normally I have to be below 80, even on the interstate.

[stands2reason]

Well, for me, I top out at about 84, and that's at optimal conditions and in flat West Texas.

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

"...I honestly couldn't see myself going any faster than that for any sustained length of time. I wonder what the average driver would do?..."

---

Extensive studies of the Autobahn have shown that drivers tend to settle around 130 k.p.h./80 m.p.h. as their "comfortable" driving speed. It allows them to reach their destination quickly and efficiently while using a reasonable amount of mental concentration.

Even with the opportunity to drive MUCH faster, most drivers won't do it because of the focused intensity of the task at hand. That is the fallacy of folks saying, "That if you magically increased the speed limit to 100 m.p.h. we would have people doing 120 m.p.h." in short order. The simple fact-of-the-matter is that folks "settle-in" to a rate of speed that is comfortable to the engineering of their car and the roadway upon which they're driving.

~ Blue Jays ~