I agree, but I know its hard to work in real life for one of the two reasons. One, in the lawyer filled world we reside in currently, not having the exact violation written out in very black and white terms can lead to enough legal wiggle room to let anyone off with a warning and we are better off not having the law in the first place. Or two, it would also lead to more police discrimination, that one local overzealous cop could tack on a fine to anyone he thought was "diving distracted" (aka, everyone they had issues with- everyone not an old white rich male in a domestic land boat -because very few people give 100% focus to the road 100% of the time and when a cop says you did something, the state normally agrees) after he pulled you over.

 

flipping other drivers off is essential to the american culture. take that away and we might as well become communists.

 

A couple other Autobahn stats for you guys...
- It is illegal to pass on the right unless in traffic
- You are not allowed to drive in the left lane unless you are passing
- Trucks have strict, slower speedlimits than cars
- Most European cars do not have cupholders

That said I fealt safer driving on the Autobahns of Europe at 100mph than driving here in the US at 65mph. While I view these laws as an infringement upon my rights as a driver I do think that they will make our roads and highways a lot safer than they already are. This is, of course, if law enforcement strictly enforces the laws. Laws themselves are worthless if they are not enforced.

We also need to build our roads a lot better and thicker like the Autobahns...but that is another thread for another day.

 

That's the fundamental difference in driving approaches in the U.S. versus Germany. I don't drink in my car, nor do I eat, use the cell phone, change radio stations (I set up my CD changer before I drive, rarely listen to radio), or anything else but drive. My eyes are on the road far in front and my rear view mirrors, always checking the cars around me and the situation ahead. I can choose my lanes with ease, set my cruise when the situation is right, and I PAY ATTENTION. Something most people need to learn, but never do.

 

It is a shame most people do not drive like you. The roads in America would be a much safer place.

 

Agreed.

 

But that's what enables me to drive at 80 mph safely and effectively. I drive about 30 miles each way from home to work, and it's all highway. When traffic permits, I set my cruise at 80. When traffic doesn't, that's what irkes me, because people don't understand that in the left lane you pass or get out of the damn way. And then they get mad because I want to go faster than the parade formation.

 

You guys are talking about the autobahn rules like they're the rules for all roads in Germany. They're not.

It'd be nice if I could say I was a model driver, but the fact of the matter is that I have on occassion gone to a drive thru and eaten in the car, or changed the radio station, or even talked on my cell phone. I at least try to limit my opportunities to stuff that can be done with one hand and without looking away from driving. I mean if I know the cup holder is right next to the shifter and I have me some juice I don't see the harm in taking a sip while I'm cruising down the pike.

Most people that do these things simply tune out the driving and focus on the task at hand and I think that's the problem. Of course like it has already been mentioned, most people are also too stupid to not cruise in the left lane.

 

There are .72 fatallities per 100 million miles on the Autobahn, and .84 on U.S. interstates.

 

The Autobahn is their whole freeway system and it's not just one section. It's the name for all the expressways throughout Germany, and they are overseen by their federal government. So all freeway points are governed in the same fashion. Mabe their city streets have different rules, but the Autobahn is run the same in Koeln as it is in Berlin or Stuttgardt There are variable speed limits within city limits, but they are not city or state controlled. That's the problem with our interstate system. The feds left it up to the individual states to maintain and enforce (with the exception of that god-awfull 55 limit from '74-91), so it's incredibly inconsistant and poorly built and maintained.