European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Many european roadways Nind through breathtaking scenery. Blowing and fender benders Are the Norm. The roads Range from Multi Lane to extremely narrow. Gay driving is an endless traffic Battle while country driving is dangerous As web involving slow moving horse drawn carts sheep Crossings and overloaded buses and trucks. Yugoslavia Highlands and mountains make up most of Yugoslavia which Means spectacular scenery but slower driving especially in coastal areas. But there is a Good network of roads most of them in Good repair although mini landslides often leave rocks in the roads. In the mountains and on the Adriatic coast the roads Are winding so count on slow Goins the roads Are wide enough to allow trucks and cars to pass comfortably although shoulders can be narrow. This Means that pedestrians also use the roads so take care. Greece Good highways and secondary roads Are found throughout Greece and driving there except in trafic Laden Athens presents no particular problems. On Back roads one must be wary of sheep that can be grazing along the sides. Tourist season May through october presents the most traffic. Obey the traffic signals and International traffic signs and drive defensively. United kingdom and Ireland except for the Quot drive on the left Rule motoring in England Scotland Wales. Northern Ireland and Ireland presents no special problems. Quot stay on the left Quot is the Litany for the new Comer and you la be Wise to repeat it the first few a. S. A Good suggestion for helping you keep to the left hand Side of the Road is to tie a White strip of cloth or tape to the left hand Side of the steering wheel. In the United kingdom you la find first class highways the Motorway Good secondary roads Rural roads and country lanes Many of the country lanes being so narrow that Quot Lay Bys Quot Are needed. Traffic congestion is the Norm in and around major cities As it is everywhere else in the world. The British and Irish make maximum use of roundabouts traffic circles to avoid the use of stoplights intersections Bridges and underpasses. Basically the Rule governing roundabouts goes that v. Hen entering one the Motorist must give Way to any traffic on the immediate right unless Road markings indicate otherwise but the Motorist should keep moving if the Way is Clear. If you miss your intended exit from a roundabout simply go around again and have another try at it Germany the High speeds and congestion have already been discussed but autobahn Quot Lane discipline and never passing on right Are Worth repeating. Once you be driven for a while in Italy you May come to agree that despite the impatience and Law flaunting nature the italian Driver is a highly skilled person at the wheel. Italians Are used to the undisciplined traffic Quot Way of life Quot and they have the Knack a perhaps from natural instinct a to keep up with the fast Pace and the noise. Their ability to weave in and out of heavy traffic is unmatched. So How does the average american survive on italian roads simple. Drive defensively concentrate Don t be intimidated and get with the flow. And use your rear View mirrors. While italian cities can be nightmarish because of the incredible amount of traffic the country s vast network of Autostrada superhighways Are marvels of construction and Are not too crowded a toll must be paid on most Autostrada. Spain the Road network in sprain is first rate with Well designed highways and Good secondary roads even in the mountains. The speeds Are moderate and there Are no special problems. Like other major european cities Madrid and Barcelona have heavy traffic congestion but with More and More cars on the Road it s a situation that will Only get worse. And that can be said for every City in europ get. As in the american Southwest visibility is Long Range in sprain and the weather is usually not a major traffic Factor. France driving in France is generally a pleasure with magnificent Countryside and a Well engineered Road system. The reason for the excellent Road engineering is that the French like the germans were instrumental in the development of the automobile along with More than 3,000 Miles of autoroute thou must pay a toll France possesses a network of some 235,000 Miles of Well kept secondary roads that can be a Joy to the Motorist who is not in a hurry. Manv of these roads Are tree lined and they wind through the landscape thread through towns and hamlets on a string of memorable routes. The driving is generally easy in France but there Are Many mountainous routes in the South and in the pyrenees that can be Tough. Switzerland and Austria for put Leopie who enjoy driving Long runs through the mountainous nations of Switzerland and Austria provide every top get of Challenge. In both nations the roads Are first rate Ami the scenery includes some of the most breath taking natural Beauty that Europe has to offer. Driving on the principal Mountain roads in these countries is a relatively easy task As the roads Are Modem and wide w Ith passing no problem. But the narrow two Lane mountainous roads Oft the beaten track Are another Story and if you have a relatively Small Maneu Merable car so much the better. In All cases the Basic Rule m Mountain driving is that the car coming up the Mountain has the right of was. Another Rule a keep to the right of the Road even w Hen there s a drop on that Side and Don t Cut curves stay in them. On a tight turn sound your to n to let the other Driver coming round the Bend know you re there. That Way. Hell stay on his part of the Road too and not Cut the turn. If you re not in a hurry driving in the mountains is not Only fun but a rewarding experience As Well. The scenery is spectacular the Roadside inns off the beaten track Are not Only charming but also reasonable and the villages All cry out to be visited. Switzerland and Austria Are not to be missed Italy in ital there s no great demand for discipline and there s no Lack of excitement. Generally speaking Speed limits Are ignored and if you re not moving with the traffic flow you la find yourself in danger of being run off the Road. So move with the flow. And april 18, 1990 stars and stripes travel Europe 4 1