European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Going by car a driving in Europe has its own twists and turns by Randy Barnett Auto motor sports editor driving in Europe is an experience that most american newcomers look Forward to because it Means Quot hitting the Road Quot and enjoying the pleasures and adventure that go with travelling. Even daily driving can be enjoyed if one has the proper Outlook. Despite crowded conditions it is normally fun to drive in Europe because there s More Freedom on the highways. And in Germany there Are no unmarked patrol cars Back there and no police to bother you. If you want to pass a police car on the outside Lane of the autobahn at 125 Miles an hour it s your privilege. But driving in Europe is More demanding than it is in the United states it requires More alertness and the traffic environment is much different. In most cases european roads Are far More crowded the traffic flow is extremely fast especially in Germany and the weather is almost always a Factor. For most americans it does t take Long to become adjusted but for others it s a daily chore. But that s life. The Best advice to a newcomer generally speaking is Quot adapt quickly to the driving situation in whatever country you re stationed in and get to know the local driving habits. You re no longer in America so forget about the traffic rules there. Learn the rules Here Quot in Germany particularly Lane discipline on the autobahn is the no. 1 priority. This becomes obvious when you realize the Speed disparities. While the germans recommend an autobahn Speed limit of 130 Kilometres per hour 80 Mph there is no Speed limit unless one is posted. Most other countries meanwhile have limits of 120 to 130 Kph on the highways 72 to 80 Mph. So Drivers coming from a Low Speed environment 55 to 65 Mph in the . May find the High speeds difficult to Cope with but within a Short time they should adapt. The Speed disparities Are wide on German autobahn where a Little Fiat trabant or Volkswagen Beetle for instance can be doing 50 Mph while that Ferrari passing them is doing so at 185 Mph a perfectly Legal Speed on a posted sections. This is a difference of 135 Miles an hour a difficult for a newly arrived american to believe a but there it is. Regardless the German autobahn systems a and systems in other european countries As Well a Are highly effective but Only because Drivers exercise Lane discipline. And that discipline includes never passing on the right. In Europe you will immediately observe Lane discipline and you must accept it quickly. The most frequent criticism of american Drivers involves passing on the right. The outside or fast Lane if you prefer is for passing and once you be passed that other car move out of the fast Lane. Autobahn passing on the right hand Side except in slow moving traffic jams is strictly illegal. An absolute necessity while driving in Europe is the mastering of the International Road signs. These signs which change hardly at All from nation to nation Are used not Only in Europe but also in More than 70 countries throughout the world. At first glance they May seem confusing and More difficult to understand than signs used in the United states. But on closer inspection and with familiarity it becomes Clear that pictures a rather than words a Are not Only easier to understand but much faster to respond to in traffic. The use of pictures also came about because of the Many different languages used in Europe. It is essential to acquire a thorough knowledge of the in most cases driving in France is a pleasure a but there Are exceptions. International Road signs and once you know them life in traffic becomes a lot easier. And you la also have to learn the signs anyway to pass your driving test a a hard but rewarding task As you la immediately discover. Defensive driving goes without saying so stay Alert and watch for the other Driver s turn signals. The majority of european Drivers use their turn signals at All times. Americans should do the same. The use of seat belts too is not Only highly recommended but is a Law in Germany and most other european nations. A car in Good condition is a necessity for Quot peace of mind Quot while driving in Europe. Be certain your car is Safe to drive with Good brakes steering All windows clean Good tires lights working properly and rear View mirrors clean and properly adjusted. And speaking of rear View mirrors one of the most important habits to form in defensive driving is to use those mirrors and use them constantly. Now let s look briefly at driving country by country. Scandinavia let s Start with the scandinavian countries because the driving environment there is similar to the states More so than any other place in Europe. Most of the Highway Speed limits in Denmark Norway Finland and Sweden Are in the 80 to 100 Kph Range 50 to 62 Mph and the limits Are strictly enforced sometimes by spotters in police helicopters. It s All very conservative driving and in Sweden Drivers even use their lights in the daytime As a safety precaution so their car can be seen Quot by the other  Benelux driving in the Netherlands Luxembourg and Belgium is fairly Low key but these countries Are densely populated. While the Netherlands is Flat Southern Belgium and most of Luxembourg have n y areas with some imposing scenery in the  area. In the Netherlands one must always be ale heavy bicycle traffic especially in the cities. Turkey this country presents the ultimate Challenge for american Drivers a and for Leuropa Drivers. Left turns from right lanes screeching Bra bad roads King size potholes non Stop Horn 40 stars and stripes travel Europe april 18, 1990