Porsche Autobahn Crash

[Jay]

And a co-worker of mine from England said that it's against the law to not use a turn signal--the US should really nationally institute that law and enforce it.

Its not a law in the US? Damn If only I knew, I wouldn't have used my turn signal when I was driving in the US.

 

[TheCracker]

Also, the Germans have such perfect lane behavior--most Americans are all over the road straying outside of their lane. I've heard people in Italy, Sweden, and the UK are also better at things such as lane behavior and common courtesy. And a co-worker of mine from England said that it's against the law to not use a turn signal--the US should really nationally institute that law and enforce it.

Lane behavior on British motorways is atrocious - from what i've experienced of US driving its much better on your freeways, probably helped by your thankfully lax 'undertaking' abilities. Can you legally undertake on US freeways or do the cops just turn a blind eye to it?

I'm not sure about the 'it's against the law to not use a turn signal' in the UK point. I know its something required by the 'Highway Code' - the UK's official road safety manual.

From Wiki: A failure on the part of a person to observe any provision of The Highway Code shall not of itself render that person to criminal proceedings of any kind, but any such failure may in any proceedings (whether civil or criminal and including proceedings for an offence under the Traffic Acts, the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 or sections 18 to 23 of the Transport Act 1985) be relied upon by any party to the proceedings as tending to establish or negative any liability which is in question in those proceedings.

The police could probably pull you over for it if they thought your actions (or lack of) were dangerous to other road users.

 

[Max_DC]

I have never driven in the USA but I think that the positive aspects about "German drivers"t,hat some of you pointed out, have some simple reasons.

One is probably that it seems to be harder to get a German driver's licence than an American one ( first of all you drive at least 20 hours together with a professional trainer. Not just somebody who has a licence like your dad or so, you pay that person to teach you driving. The same person will also teach you theory. So you spend at least 30 hours with a driving teacher).

Another reason is, that European societies in general are very old, therefor our cities were not designed or planned. They just grew over 1000 years ( or less of course ). The point is that we have cities which were not built for cars, the streets are curvy, small and wide, trees and objects decrease the visible areas etc. We don't have the block systems of many American cities. So you really have to be careful.

Next point : rules and regulations. German authorities really have strict rules. You absolutly HAVE to use your turn signal any time you leave your lane. You are not allowed to answer phone calls in the car, you are not even allowed to hold one in your hand while the engine is running. You are not allowed o modify your car without a control meeting at local authorities ( called TÜV ). Any you are not at all allowed to overtake a car on the right side. This will have severe conseuqences ( at least 1 month without driving licence and like 200 dollar fee afaik).

Apart from these specialities many drivers in Germany suck, many break the rules. I have driven in Japan, France, Austria etc, it is not so different to Germany concerning safety etc, so a overglorification of German driving surely is a mistake.

 

[Poverty]

German drivers ae arguably the best in the world. I would say the swedes but theyre barely allowed to go over 50mph so they dont count.

The french are crap drivers, and in the UK there a bunch of baffoons too. The US highways are pretty easy to drive on because they ahve so many lanes. UK highways are cramped. From my experience german drivers are the most curteous.

 

[Leonidae]

they kinda have to, or they'll have 120mph 2-ton V12 merc up in the boot of their corsas/novas. and that wouldn't be pretty, would it?

 

[JCE]

they kinda have to, or they'll have 120mph 2-ton V12 merc up in the boot of their corsas/novas. and that wouldn't be pretty, would it?

Slower traffic to the right--and if you don't look in your rearview mirror every 5 seconds while in the left lane you could be rearended by a Porsche going 175+mph. It's against the law (from what I understand) for drivers not to move over to the right lane if they are either; a) slower than the current traffic in the left lane b) see an apporaching Porsche traveling at the speed of sound and do not move over and yield to the faster driver. Oh and you can't make any "obscene" hand gestures towards other drivers--like pointing at your head as it's IS considered obscene and quite illegal. In the US I flip people off all the time for cutting me off or tailgating me. I even give them a hearty "brake check" and yell "**** you" when they pass finally pass me. I try not to drive more than 8-10mph over the speed limit but when some is tailgating me while traveling at 75-80mph they deserve everything they get.

Oh and back to the original topic, if there was 3 females in the car you can bet that they were talking to each other and the driver was not paying attention to the road. Doesn't matter how fast she was going--hitting a guardrail at any motorway speed is going to disintegrate even a Volvo.

 

[the Interceptor]

Slower traffic to the right--and if you don't look in your rearview mirror every 5 seconds while in the left lane you could be rearended by a Porsche going 175+mph. It's against the law (from what I understand) for drivers not to move over to the right lane if they are either; a) slower than the current traffic in the left lane b) see an apporaching Porsche traveling at the speed of sound and do not move over and yield to the faster driver. Oh and you can't make any "obscene" hand gestures towards other drivers--like pointing at your head as it's IS considered obscene and quite illegal. In the US I flip people off all the time for cutting me off or tailgating me. I even give them a hearty "brake check" and yell "**** you" when they pass finally pass me. I try not to drive more than 8-10mph over the speed limit but when some is tailgating me while traveling at 75-80mph they deserve everything they get.

Well, it's not that bad, at least when you're not driving a moving obstacle like a Smart.

There actually is a law that you have to drive on the right side, which means blocking cars behind you on the left lane is "illegal" if the right lane is free. However, the driver behind you is not allowed to push you in any way either. He can be fined for driving too close to the car in front, molesting and stuff. But there's a broad line you walk (or rather drive) on when you do that. Flashing your full beam once or twice to indicate that you'd like to pass is not illegal, you just musn't do too much. If you did or didn't is in the hands of the police, which might catch you eventually. The Autobahn-police know their job though, they easily spot if you consider yourself a second Schumacher or just were tyring to get home desparately this one time.

Regards
the Interceptor

 

[Niels]

*Multimillionair gets up, walks away*
"Right, that was fun, let's do it again"


...


More money than brains ey? When will they ever learn...

 

[Poverty]

It's against the law (from what I understand) for drivers not to move over to the right lane if they are either; a) slower than the current traffic in the left lane b) see an apporaching Porsche traveling at the speed of sound and do not move over and yield to the faster driver.

My dad likes to do that, coming speeding up behind other drivers and getting them to move out the way, they dont react instantly though till hes basically tailgating them.

 

[iceburns288]

*Multimillionair gets up, walks away*
"Right, that was fun, let's do it again"


...


More money than brains ey? When will they ever learn...

Oh, so you know the driver personally? And you know their financial status, how they normally drive, and why they crashed?

For all you know (or more importantly, don't know) considering there is tons of damage to the rear they could have been rear ended by someone going 150+. Not likely, but whatever.

Don't be so quick to judge people next time, eh?

 

[the Interceptor]

I guess you can put it like this: traffic on the autobahn would be a lot more comfortable for both sides if the speeders would act a bit more relaxed and the creepers would be less stubborn and just let them pass. I happen do be somewhere between doing an average of 85mph, so I pass the creepers and let the speeders pass me.
Only sometimes I feel provoked by some guys who seemingly need to push me. I don't drive a rocket, but it's enough to teach them what acceleration means. I know it's a bad habit and that I shouldn't do it, but it can be fun at times.

Regards
the Interceptor

 

[Flerbizky]

I guess you can put it like this: traffic on the autobahn would be a lot more comfortable for both sides if the speeders would act a bit more relaxed and the creepers would be less stubborn and just let them pass. I happen do be somewhere between doing an average of 85mph, so I pass the creepers and let the speeders pass me.
Only sometimes I happen to feel provoked by some guys who feel like pushing me. I don't drive a rocket, but it's enough to teach them what acceleration means. I know it's a bad habit and that I shouldn't do it, but it can be fun at times.

Regards
the Interceptor

I've done a little bit of driving on the Autobahn (passing by, DK to France and back) and we were never, at any point (Car 1, me, the EO and one of my sisters, Car 2, My Parents and another of my sisters), bothered when entering the left most lane - and I find this to be a very respectful way of driving. at one point, we we're overtaking someone hauling a camper, and we're in a Citroen 1.4i, and the M5 that comes up to us, quite fast, never even flashed his lights...

I like the way germans drive, I really do !...

('Cept the ones in X5s, those are real bastards)

 

[the Interceptor]

It also depends on where you drive, there are certain Autobahns known for a lot of speeders. I drive about 60 miles of Autobahn a day, and I meet rude speeders maybe once or twice a week. But I'm not a target anyway, as I swerve them like I said before. If I'd play the creeper on the left lane, I'd have to face a lot more I guess. But most of them just wait until you change back to the right, only few are driving aggressively.

There's one problem on the Autobahns though, which makes driving fast a problem - middle lane-drivers. A growing number of people doesn't use the right lane even if it's free, cause they might eventually meet a truck there. To avoid the enourmous endevour [sarcasm!] of changing lanes, they stay in the middle all the time. So, the average driver like me has to change to the left lane, blocking the speeders.

Like I said, if people would drive a little bit more conscious and think once in a while, driving would be much more pleasant for every party out there.

Regards
the Interceptor

 

[GT4_Rule]

The no-speed-limit of autobahns make Germans better drivers than speed-limited highways in Canada/US. Thats one theory I heard. Without speed limits, people don't get the satisfaction and thrill of breaking the law while speeding.....

Don't flame me for being stupid, I just heard this somewhere.

 

[murphy54]

that is crazy man

 

[Wolfe]

As I said on the last page :

The mere fact that americans think "whoa, that's AWESOME!!" when they hear about the limitless Autobahn pretty much proves that we're irresponsible.

 

[Max_DC]

Latest statistics in Germany say : 5400 traffic accident related deaths in 2005. ( out of 80.000.000 people). So compared to the figures above : In the USA you obviously have 8000 traffic accident related deaths within 80 mio inhabitans on the USA. I just read the number today and thought I'd post it here...

 

[Niels]

Oh, so you know the driver personally? And you know their financial status, how they normally drive, and why they crashed?

For all you know (or more importantly, don't know) considering there is tons of damage to the rear they could have been rear ended by someone going 150+. Not likely, but whatever.

Don't be so quick to judge people next time, eh?

I didn't judge him particularly, but I just recall all those moments that I saw expensive porsches mercs and BMW's overtaking us on the highway with rediculous speeds, especially the porsches. And it's freakin dumb to be honest, and I think I have a high chance in being right if I say this accident was caused my speeding.