European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 5, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Earning tie rub big wheels Randy Pruitt some Crackerjack pilots  make the Grade neither could some highly educated teachers. Even top ranking military officers have been shamed by their poor performance. The quest for a Drivers License in Europe has wrecked thousands of egos and thrown up a temporary Roadblock for Many americans. The Usa eur and Safe Drivers tests in West Germany catch Many off guard. The failure rate for first timers is High approaching 50 percent in some cases. If Langenbeck sympathizes. As acting supervising instructor of driving in Darmstadt West Germany he administers tests to americans. For the past nine years he has seen them come in regularly a Young and Middle aged confident and nervous. Many arc mentally unprepared for what a about to happen. They flunk. Some sweat through the two part written cd animation three or More times before they get a License. In 1989, of 5,786 americans who took the lest for privately owned vehicles at Nathan Hale depot in Darmstadt 2,949 passed and 2,837 failed. In 1988, 2,880 passed and 2,180 failed. On the military sch icle test 1,682 passed and 1,926 failed in a 1989 in 1988, 2,000 passed and 1,973 failed a Usa eur spokesman says records Arentt kept on the Overall pass fail rate but Langen Beck says he has visited with other instructors who report similar pass fail rates. Though the test is difficult Langenbeck says americans have it easier than germans when it comes to getting a Drivers License. Germany has the hardest system in the world to gel a License and the United slates has one of the easiest he says. Quot americans can miss 10 questions and no one asks what kind of questions a a he says. A it could be 10 right of Way questions and he d still get a  while All questions on the american lest carry equal weight questions on the German test Are Worth different Points he explains. Right of Way questions count four Points each and missing three of them would result in a failing score. Langenbeck says he introduced a proposal to m a Keri get of Way q us is ions Cou n t of r m o re would be driers sweat it out at a Cavern in Darmstadt West germans. Points on the american test but it was rejected by Usa eur. A the right a forc Ift Rule trips up most americans Quot Langenbeck says. All germans arc required to attend driving school for 24 hours of theoretical lessons in the classroom and 25 hours behind the wheel which includes 10 hours of special driving on the autobahn and secondary roads and at night. There Are 1,000 possible questions but Only 40 Are asked on the written test. A a germans who fail can retake the test in two weeks. A three month Wail for retesting is re Quirck if someone fails three times. The Cost of driving instruction averages 2,000 Marks about $ 1,280. Since an hourly rate is charged some people have been known to spend 7,000 Marks $4,490 to get a License. The minimum driving age in Germany is 18 compared with 16 in most . States. A the country takes the whole thing very seriously. We try to make getting a License harder and harder in order to drop the Accident rate and get the people better educated Quot Lang Beck says. German traffic is denser and faster with More unclear intersections he says. Rainy weather conditions Are another variable. A the whole attitude to driving is different. People Here Sec it As a Challenge a he says. Germans have a special Affinity for their sleek four wheeled chariots. A the slightest scratch is a problem a Langenbeck says Quot i you had a car that Cost 60,000 Marks and someone hit you you  Tike . Germans also Pride themselves on being top gun Drivers. A you can say everything to a German but never say a you Are a bad Driver a that a the thing he is interested in to be a Good Driver. You can say it to an american and he does no to care Quot Langenbeck says. German driving styles frequently fuel american anger. Langenbeck offers some insight Quot americans want to go from Point a a to Point  a German competes with other div ers a he says. R for that reasons he says with a laugh Quot of won t see a Bow or Mercedes with a Coffee cup on the dash a american cars he says arc geared toward Comfort while German autos promote a different feeling. Langenbeck faults automobile advertisements for the dynamic or sporty image they project. A it stans in the brain of the Driver something that will not let him drive the car slowly a he says. Langenbeck says technological safety advances such As anti lock brakes and airbags Are often taken away by the wrong action of the Driver a every Lime technology provides something that makes the car safer the Driver Goe faster a he says. Most accidents in Germany Are caused by excessive Speed tailgating and carelessness tie says  so Langenbeck says americans who Tail Arentt negative afterwards. Quot they come 0jl1 the testing Book and ask questions a he soy someone is mad its because he can t his Girlfriend for a sunday  to Ruby part its a 5 Anco strips i Gih Wieri a a cd Page 6 c sunday Var of -Jnri-1j- a a  5 1590