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Posted on 08/14/2014 5:39:21 PM PDT by WesternCulture
I learned how to drive on German Autobahns.
I met a retired Belgian on the internet as he was looking for information on moving to the Philippines. He arrived in my town on Cebu and we became friends.
I noticed that he walked with a peculiar limp. During conversation he told me of his accident on the autobahn. He had been rear-ended, pushing his car under the rear end of a large truck. The resulting brain injury causes him to walk with a noticeable limp. He does not, however, feel any pain or discomfort from it. His brain just tells his right leg to move that way.
“A que? I think you mean queue, or in American English, a traffic-jam or back up.”
- Yes, I meant a queue of course. Sorry.
As far as I know, “traffic jam” is an expression found in both American and British English. “Back up” I don’t believe is used in this particular context in British English.
In German the word is “Stau” and if you don’t hit the breaks travelling at 200 mph or more approaching it..
“The resulting brain injury causes him to walk with a noticeable limp. He does not, however, feel any pain or discomfort from it. His brain just tells his right leg to move that way.”
- The Autobahn do strange things to your life.
Sure. Used to drive up and down A62 and across (West) Germany on A6 a lot when I was there between 1987 and 1990. My one and only speeding ticket ever happened on Autobahn 6. A speed camera got me on one ofnthe rare speed limited curves.
German drivers (and increasingly the untermenschen in the other countries) are really very good about driving in town, obeying signs, town speed limits, etc. Also be aware that if you get a parking ticket, the cop will be checking your tires, looking for bad rust, dirt heavy enough to obscure your license plate, your insurance ID, etc. You could lose the car! You will definitely lose it and your license for driving under the influence anywhere in the EU.
On the Autobahn and Autostrade, it's a class system. Stay out of the fast lane unless you can afford the big ticket equipment. There are speed limits now, but do stay out of the damn way, Peasant! Be aware, too, that they don't have many fender-benders on these high speed roads. 4-5 car accidents and the meat wagon are more typical of the accidents out there. Germany and Italy are foggy in wintertime, with lots of black ice. Dangerous, baby! On the older roads, the curves are tighter, too.
Some old rules still apply. Try not to drive in France after lunch. Belgium? Those people have no hand-eye coordination at all!
The best cars (and drivers) in the world come from countries that have an Alp.
P. S. “ Que” is spelled “queue”.
I’ve seen collisions on the Autobahn, one where the engine of a Mercedes was found in a farmers field about 300’ away from point of impact.
You noticed those too.
I regret never visiting the town of “Ausfahrt.” It must have been a really big place; it seemed like every exit led to it!
Said Video Not Available
So as a replacement, I submit the Paris Car Chase Scene from ‘Ronin’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxxH0lZSYgU
I loved driving over there, rent a car at the Lux airport and head into Germany and let the fun begin. It is great to be able to drive on the Autobahn. Being in the service in the 80’s and being able to drive at the high speeds was a learning experience.
- A lot of drivers from other European countries have experienced the same thing.
We Swedes and the Swiss drive the most powerful cars in Europe (measured by hps). But we're not used to driving our cars like the Germans do.
The Autobahn is insane, but if you take it easy and refrain from challenging experienced drivers traveling at very high speeds and forcing others to move over, you'll soon find out the Autobahn could be a very good friend of yours. Efficient, convenient, reliable - Germany at its best.
“P. S. “ Que” is spelled “queue”.”
- Thanks. I should have checked my article a bit more before posting. Sorry.
For five years.
Topped our at 158mph in my bosses BMW.
Yes , stationed in Germany and Italy (aka Autostrada) and regularly cruised at between 100 and 140 mph..... Usually averaged 230 kph . Anything else was super car crap and my old used Mercedes wasn’t up to higher speeds....:o)
No Bugatti Veyron or Porsche Turbos, albeit I did have a six cylinder variant of the old Porsche 914. It ran the dolomite and Austrian alps mountain valley roads between Italy and Germany really well on pirelli p7’s ....
Loved the autobahn and autostrada and survived by knowing my place in that food chain and what flash to pass meant ..... STAT in the slower lanes !!!
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