Driving in Germany

After much worry and fretting, I took my driving test and passed with flying colors!   I got my hands on the driver's manual ahead of time and spent the four weeks prior to arrival reading it and highlighting passages that were different than US driving rules.  For me, this was the best method since US driving rules are so deeply entrenched in my brain from my accident investigation days.  Also, I'm a very visual learner, so if I read it and take notes, I'm likely to remember.

Here are my observations on driving in Germany so far:

1. There are a ton of signs.  This is bad and good. It's bad because there are lots of new signs to recognize, understand and react to.  The good news is that the Germans appear to put signs on EVERYTHING!  So, if you do EXACTLY what they signs say without over-thinking it, you probably won't die or kill anyone.  It's good stuff.

2.  Germans Drive Crazy, myth or fiction?   Personally, I think this is mostly myth.  I've yet to be truely shocked by anything. BUT...to be fair, I learned to drive along I-95 and the I-495 Beltway in the DC Metro Area.  Next to Los Angeles, it's consistently rated as the worst traffic in the US.  We joke that the speed limit is 65 on I-96 but that's really a suggested minimum and that it's called 95 because that's how fast the flow of traffic is.  Also, DC drivers are VERY aggressive.  The only difference I've seen between DC aggressive and Germany aggressive is that the biggest car usually wins in DC.  In Germany, it's the fastest car. 

I love the Autobahn!

3. Navigation:  It's very easy to get around because they put signs up for everything. So, all you need is a city or town name and you follow the signs at each major intersection.  Really.  It's not like in the US where the sign for Austin is 10 minutes outside of El Paso. The signs are very specific and very sensible.  Love it.      

Road signs with Town, distance and direction. And, unlike in the US, they really mean it.

                                     

4. Right of Way:  This is the trickiest part, in my opinion.  In the US we are accustomed to thinking of ROW scenarios as "Major Roadway" tests.  Which ever vehicle is on the larger road generally has the right of way.  We use a right-is-right rule only at four way stops when there are multiple vehicles arriving at the same time, otherwise it's first come, first served.  In Germany, Right is always RIGHT.   Regardless of how big/small a road is, you must yield the right of way to a vehicle approaching from your right.  The only exception to this involves signs. So, again...just do exactly what the signs say and no problem.   Personally, I love this.  It takes a little thinking but it's so straight-forward.

Love me some Priority Road signs.  As I zoom around the corner, I think to myself "Priority Road and it is MEEEEE!"

                                                                     


Lastly, a few of my favorite new Road signs, plus a few that I think should be redefined.:

Automobiles Prohibited.  Personally, I think it looks like an "Only Cars Allowed" sign.  I'm being very careful not to mix it up!

Caution: Frog Crossing.  Really, I'm not joking.  It's a sign.

End of Prohibitions.  In Germany, this means drive fast!  But, I think it should be a "Don't forget your PT Belt" sign.

No Autobahns allowed.  (Or, as it's really called, End of the Autobahn.)

Boobs Ahead.