[Paul Franssen]

Lots of words... I really don't think Europe has significantly better (or worse) drivers than the US. It seems to me that Americans have a tendency to overinflate their perception of things foreign...

Right now, in France the police are acting quite tough against speeders (and in fact, the Porsche name has been mentioned in some spectacular accidents, unfortunately including one where some idiot in a turbo raced into a bus booth killing those inside, I think he got ...4 years...increasing the outrage). The generalisations are the same as everywhere: la vitesse tue! (speed kills). The problems are the same, too. And the criticisms... I got busted on a autoroute near Reims, doing 171 (106 mph). Cost me a hundred bucks. Leaves me room to chuckle, and since I don't have a French license, they can't deduct any "points", either. Too bad for them. I do not dispute that the law is the law, same as stupid is stupid. Even my wife does not believe I was doing 171 (I thought abt 160), and there were 2 cars (including one diesel) following me for the last 30 miles or so (my Porsche must have saved THEM a ticket!).

One French specialty is to keep your passing blinker on all the time, whilst remaining constantly in the passing lane. Logical, I guess.

In Belgium, they are speaking of acting tough against speeders. We're used to that Belgian speaking, but it's coming: "superfines" for "speed devils". We tend to turn our blinkers on just before or just...after... having taken a turn, a matter of "appearing" legal (which of course it isn't, but no one bothers to read the judicial reports of the courts). And, of course, slowpokes in the left lane (for 2-lane highways) or, better!, in the middle-lane (for the very common 3-lane highways which 3-lane highways are, I feel, the most dangerous ones of all).

In England, mmm... over 80 mph seems to be a consensus speeding offence on the freeways..

Holland: slowpokes, generally lousy drivers who seem to take pleasure at sticking right behind a truck in the right lane and then jumping into the left lane just as you arrive.

Germany: wait a minute, there! When the speed limit says "50" kph, don't try to go faster! In fact, in Germany the drivers (and in general, everybody) are so conditioned by the law that absolutely everybody sticks to the limits! Which is a damn good thing, too. Yet it is (still) possible to drive superfast on some autobahns... Germany is one place I like to drive, it provides clearcut options and there is little misunderstanding.
The "left lane slowpoke" problem does NOT exist in Germany. Many German autobahns have only 2 lanes, making it clear: fast on the left, slow on the right! Simple and adequate! In Germany, when in the city some dud wants to turn left in front of a "no left turn allowed" sign, there will be a general concert of 50 cars hooting. That is social control, no cops needed. The same situation in Belgium will create general chaos, guaranteed. Everybody just tends to do as they like...


In general, we still drive a lot faster in Europe than in the US. Police repression in the USA is HORRIFFIC (BTW, how does that score on the scales of the much touted "Freedom" motto???)
But the signs are on the wall: holier-than-thouism, (literal) middle-of-the-road social/political blandness, combined with recuperation of such "popular" themes by political castes are, aided by technology, increasingly leading to control. It will not much longer be possible to drive faster than the law permits, even on any empty and deserted roads that may be left...