European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                \ to /-�?Ttuc.tii, picking up bad habits fast by Mary Neth staff writer alter 40 some years americans finally have adjusted to moving in Germany a fast lanes. A the country a any Speed goes autobahn used to be approached timidly. Americans complained about aggressive German Drivers. Now say the German autobahn police the boys and girls from the United states arc out there on the freeways Wheeling along speeding and tailgating with the worst of their German neighbors. The autobahn police have pictures to prove it. Ltd a a it a a new phenomenon a said a policeman of the Darmstadt division one of the most heavily trafficked areas of the country. Ten years ago he said it was Only germans who drove so aggressively. It was rare to catch an a a amid As a traffic offender. A now we have them on film All the time a he said handing Over a stack of front on photos of americans a military civilian male and female a in  cars. Several had been caught speeding a from 86 Mph upward a in a 62-Mph zone. Another was caught racing along at 94 Mph in a 50-Mph zone. A i really done to know Why the sudden difference in american driving style a said the policeman. A a new generation a the Darmstadt autobahn police headed by Dieter Pagenkopf watch Over about 50 Miles of freeway the four Lane a-5 from Rhein main a to  on the Bergstrasser and a-67 from go Rosheim to the three autobahn crossing at Russ Olsheim. A a we have very heavy traffic in this area a said Pagenkopf. A in 24 hours it is travelled by Between 90,000 and 100,000 cars. In the last six months there were 842 traffic  German Law has driven the autobahn police to become photo bugs with a specially in Mug shots. A just a photo of the License plate wont do a explained Pagenkopf. A the person driving the car must be positively  until the police began documenting their tickets with shots of Drivers traffic offenders often were Able to wiggle out of the charges. When the traffic ticket arrived in the mail Pagenkopf said the ploy was to answer by saying that the car had been loaned to a relative. Since a person cannot be forced to testify against Kin in Germany there was no Way to prove the statement untrue. A about 5 percent of the people who get traffic tickets still try to deny they were behind the wheel a said policeman Heinrich Adler an expert at police photography. The police answer by shipping off a Mug shot and the guilty party pays. One inventive Driver found a Way to beat the system. When the police film was developed it showed an unidentifiable Man wearing a huge pig party mask. Quot most people Arentt willing to go that far a Adler said. The Darmstadt autobahn police use two methods to document driving offences on film. A stationary cameras which take pictures of Driver and License plate arc set up alongside the freeways and on overhead Bridges. A an audio video setup mounted in an unmarked patrol car records car Speed and  is More than Happy to show off the equipment. He wants people to know they Are being watched a and watch their step. Adler is one of the Crew that mans a camera on a Bridge Over Highway a-5. A before the camera was set up we placed distance markers on the autobahn itself a he explained. A then the camera was placed to correspond with the Laid out measuring Field and the markers were removed from the  the camera takes photos at the rate of two every nine seconds. From the position of cars in the different photos it it it possible to figure exactly How fast they arc travelling and the distance Between. After the photos Are evaluated at the station the local police Send the information to a Central office in Kassel which mails tickets to traffic offenders. For tailgating fines Range from 80 to 300 Marks about $50 to $180. When a Driver has been really hanging on the bumper of the car ahead he can lose his License for four weeks. The police who drive the unmarked High Speed opel give on the conc ticket service plus a free video film showing. The film showings Are hardly greeted with Joy. No that dog in top photo in t driving. The cops shot that one for grins. In Bottom photo n tailgating car got snapped. They Are reruns of the crazy driving that a adding up to a ticket. A the Drivers Are it Able to say much alter they see the films. Its All there in Black and  said Adler. Quot if a Case goes to court the film also continued on i tic follow that wild Fiat never your instinct by j. King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau and now Twenty things you need to know to survive in the cutthroat world of traffic in Southern Italy 20. Take no prisoners. 19. Block intersections. If you can to get where you want to go Why should anyone else a 18. Done to be distracted by Street signs and traffic lights. At Best they Are advisory. 17. Remember one Way Street signs merely indicate the direction in which most vehicles generally travel. 16. When the Street is blocked drive on the sidewalk. 15. Be aware that traffic entering from the right is first seen by the right Eye. Otherwise it is no different from traffic entering from the left. 14. Two Lane roads Are meant to accommodate at least four cars abreast. 13. Blend in with the locals. In Southern Italy that Calls for disabling your cards turn signal system and smashing at least one headlight and one taillight. 12. Sound the Horn constantly especially in residential areas and Hospital zones. It wont make traffic move faster but it will drown out unpleasant noises such As Birds songs. 11. Read the newspaper while inching along in traffic. It will sufficiently unnerve other Drivers so you will be Able to exploit any hesitation by them. 10. Hoard 50,000 and 100,000-lire Bank notes to pay for 700-lire Road tolls. 9. Make every second count. When traffic is gridlocked get out and have a picnic. 8. Never double Park when you can triple Park. Tomake friends with a White Caps a the scruffy self appointed ubiquitous parking attendants. With Hick a White Cap May invite you to cruise on his 70-foot yacht or stay at his Villa on Capri. 6. Never never wave thanks to anybody who lets you into a line of traffic. It will be taken As a sign of weakness. 5. Always Wear sunglasses. That Way if you blink first the other Driver wont see it. 4. Make the hashing lights and the wailing sirens of emergency vehicles work for you. Tailgate first reeks and ambulances. Not Banc this does no to work terribly Well with police cars. 3. Sharpen traffic skills by Riding the bumper cars at Fairgrounds. 2. Practice for the bumper cars by driving in italian traffic. 1. And drum Roll the Numero Uno survival Rule is visit Southern italian cities in August when All the natives Are away on  4. 1991 sunday Page 5