Driving in Germany

All this driving around has inspired me to summarize some of the key differences from driving in the states. First, there are very few stop lights. These kids have embraced the yield system like no other. All you "rolling through stop signs" drivers out there would appreciate this effeciency. Also, instead of stop lights, they use roundabouts which eliminates traffic jams and long waits at intersections. Awesome! Warming up your car in the morning is restricted to 30 seconds. Any longer and you risk recieving a ticket. No joke. What about all these small cars? How do they transport large, bulky items? Most cars have hitches to which they attach some sort of utility trailers. Check out a typical hitch:

The speed limit follows the efficiency theme: slow down to 50kmh (around 30mph) in the villages (trust me....with such narrow streets, you don't want to go much faster than that) and then floor it to over 100kmh (or 60+mph) once you hit the village border. Traveling at nearly 70mph on a 2-lane road took some getting used to.....about 2 seconds. In a hurry to get somewhere? It's encouraged. Want to go fast and have a little fun? No problem, enjoy. I love this country!!! It's not all fun and games however......these German kids love to tailgate. I mean sitting on your bumper tailgating. It's common to have a German come up on you and just sit on your rear through many turns and curves regardless of you obeying a posted speed limit. It's all good though. Passing here is quite different than from the states. It is commonplace to pass on straight aways, corners, hills....pretty much anywhere you want. Just floor it, move quickly, and hope for the best (i.e., no unexpected oncoming cars).

Tires is an important part of the driving experience here. How many people know the speed rating for their tires? In the states we rarely exceed 70mph so this is not a concern. In Germany however, it is vital to know the speed limit of your tires before hitting the autobahn. Imagine having a blowout at 100mph. Check the sidewalls for a letter towards the end of all that size information and you will learn your speed limit. Should I ever rent the Audi R8 for a road trip, I will make certain that the tires are rated Y (a rating of over 186mph). After all, the last thing you should be thinking of while driving 190mph+ in a car valued at over $100,000 is the speed rating for your tires.