Driving standards again - Germany....
Discussion
After last weeks little foray around Germany I thought I'd give you an update on the standards of driving compared to that I experienced the week before in the UK.
Most of the Autobahns were dual carriageway, de restricted except around cities and major juntions.
Where safe & allowed I drove in excess of 100mph almost all day, I did not get prosecuted for speeding, did not go to prison, did not lose my licence or my livelyhood.
Not ONE SINGLE truck pulled out on me aggressively like they do every few mins in the UK.
Everyone is looking in their mirrors.
Everyone is anticipating what will happen at juntions.
Everone will move over & or adjust their speed to let other pass, faster cars would likewise do the same.
Get back into the Uk & my blood pressure starts rising immediately
The driving standards in the uk are quite frankly dangerous, aggressive & downright bloody awful.
No one moves over, no one is looking in their mirrors, no one pays ANY attention, no one anticipates what might happen at junctions (no one compared to the Germans anyway)
There is no way we could increase the motorway speed limit without improving driver standards first.
>>> Edited by cptsideways on Monday 8th March 11:22
Most of the Autobahns were dual carriageway, de restricted except around cities and major juntions.
Where safe & allowed I drove in excess of 100mph almost all day, I did not get prosecuted for speeding, did not go to prison, did not lose my licence or my livelyhood.
Not ONE SINGLE truck pulled out on me aggressively like they do every few mins in the UK.
Everyone is looking in their mirrors.
Everyone is anticipating what will happen at juntions.
Everone will move over & or adjust their speed to let other pass, faster cars would likewise do the same.
Get back into the Uk & my blood pressure starts rising immediately
The driving standards in the uk are quite frankly dangerous, aggressive & downright bloody awful. No one moves over, no one is looking in their mirrors, no one pays ANY attention, no one anticipates what might happen at junctions (no one compared to the Germans anyway)
There is no way we could increase the motorway speed limit without improving driver standards first.
>>> Edited by cptsideways on Monday 8th March 11:22
Exactly correct article deleted ...
cptsideways said:
There is no way we could increase the motorway speed limit without improving driver standards first.
Couldn't agree more, but there are thirty million low quality drivers out there.
That's a lot of training. I'm happy to do my bit to pay for it, but no government in their right mind would sanction this.
On the other hand, motorways are the safest roads.
On the third hand, I prefer Darwin. One day, announce no limits, then let them sink or swim. Good drivers won't have a problem.
Told you we were BETTER drivers! 
You are taught a very precise procedure regarding M>S>M and C>O>A>S>T! (Which includes leaving decent gaps and strict observance of 2-sec rule!)
The Fahrschulen will not let you proceed unless you grasp this mettle - unfortunately some of these are "scammers" and have been known to deliberately hold you back to extort more fees out of you!
Tailgating is highly illegal over there - and they always prosecute if they catch you! (They have been known to use A/bahn CCTV footage in some of the Lander for this - according to Road Safety Cousin
!)
"Stinkefinger", etc - they could prosecute (practically unheard of - but on list of "offences") for this - but probably just use discretion!
Because of the derestricted motorways and the fast cars, it is considered ultimate discourtesy to block someone! Also - those Mercs come up suddenly and from nowhere at high speed - essential to concentrate hard and keep frequent mirror checks!
Perhaps we need to make UK L-Test to same standard.
Even so - they do have accidents - but but oddly, apparently more so on slower roads and limited stretches!
>> Edited by WildCat on Monday 8th March 10:48
You are taught a very precise procedure regarding M>S>M and C>O>A>S>T! (Which includes leaving decent gaps and strict observance of 2-sec rule!)
The Fahrschulen will not let you proceed unless you grasp this mettle - unfortunately some of these are "scammers" and have been known to deliberately hold you back to extort more fees out of you!
Tailgating is highly illegal over there - and they always prosecute if they catch you! (They have been known to use A/bahn CCTV footage in some of the Lander for this - according to Road Safety Cousin
!) "Stinkefinger", etc - they could prosecute (practically unheard of - but on list of "offences") for this - but probably just use discretion!
Because of the derestricted motorways and the fast cars, it is considered ultimate discourtesy to block someone! Also - those Mercs come up suddenly and from nowhere at high speed - essential to concentrate hard and keep frequent mirror checks!
Perhaps we need to make UK L-Test to same standard.
Even so - they do have accidents - but but oddly, apparently more so on slower roads and limited stretches!
>> Edited by WildCat on Monday 8th March 10:48
WildCat said:
Even so - they do have accidents - but but oddly, apparently more so on slower roads and limited stretches!
I've noticed that autobahn accidents tend to get cleared away extremely quickly.
Also, on stretches with bad jams a police car reverses down the hard shoulder with a flashing "stau" roof sign to warn oncoming drivers to slow down.
I guess we have to accept that Germans are just more organised than we are. They take pride in their driving, like they do everything else. But where else in the world is it illegal to wash your car on a Sunday?
Peter Ward said:
Even so - they do have accidents - but but oddly, apparently more so on slower roads and limited stretches!
I guess we have to accept that Germans are just more organised than we are. They take pride in their driving, like they do everything else. But where else in the world is it illegal to wash your car on a Sunday?
Austria and Switzerland!??
The latter would probably insist on yodelling and archery as well - after Church of course! cptsideways said:
A lot of spot on stuff about German driving
then cptsideways said:
Get back into the Uk & my blood pressure starts rising immediately
Can I relate to this!!!!!!!
I drive in many countries and in a wide varieties of vehicles. At the moment its an HGV and temp outside is -1 deg C which makes life interesting, but no matter.
I can guarantee that on Friday within 30 minutes of being back in UK I will have seen more examples of lousy driving than experienced in about 1500km over 4 days.
That is lousy driving in all shades of the spectrum, from utter numpty, as in "one brain cell not my turn to use it today" to aggressive barging, as in "get out my way peasant."
I seem to recall from a visit in my teens being told by my uncle, who was stationed there in the army, that Jaywalking is illegal in Germany. The law is on the side of the driver if a pedestrian chooses not to use a designated crossing and is hit.
That sounds emminently sensible and therefore has absolutely no chance of being considered by the UK authorities...
That sounds emminently sensible and therefore has absolutely no chance of being considered by the UK authorities...
cptsideways said:
Any venture capatilists out there fancy starting a business up & lobbying the government for improved driver standards with a view to starting up a company that does the training?
I can see the is one heck of a lot of potential business out there..........
You would need to be an MP(or related to) or one of the Hoggs with its snout in the gravey train to get a piece of that action
cptsideways said:
Any venture capatilists out there fancy starting a business up & lobbying the government for improved driver standards with a view to starting up a company that does the training?
I can see the is one heck of a lot of potential business out there..........
Interestingly, what the Government won't do, the free market is already doing.
Pass Plus for new drivers gets reduced insurance premiums.
Asking Government to do anything is a waste of time.
How about a new private driving test designed & run by a private company.
Pass the private test, and you get reduced insurance premiums from a list of selected insurance companies ?
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