Chuck S

First time on the Autobahn noted the first exit lead to Ausfahrt. As did did the next and the next and the next. Darn big town!

-- Chuck

freq

Did European Delivery with our BMW 435i, 20 minutes after drving it out of the Welt we were doing 100 mph on the autobahn and got passed multiple times. Very courteous drivers.

Also did Stelvio Pass and Splugen Pass that same trip.

mosesbotbol

Driving or biking the Stelvio and Splungen to be more fun than driving on the Autobahn to me.

iforyou

I heard it's a rigorous process to get a driver's license in Germany. You need to pass an eye exam and an 8-hr long First-Aid course, and go to driving school before you can even do the tests.

clawhammer

I can't speak for Germany, but I can speak for Switzerland as my gf is looking at getting her driver's license here I had to take the eye exam to convert my license. 10 minutes, costs about $20. One of the few things in Switzerland that is reasonably priced. Here you also have to take the First Aid course. Driving lessons cost about $100 per lesson. All in all, about $4k to get a license from beginning to end.

rob-2

God bless America!

clawhammer

Why? Making it harder to get a driver's license (and providing alternate transportation methods) is actually a very good thing. It helps with traffic congestion, and driving is generally reserved to those who actually WANT to drive.

Chuck S

You do not need a drivers license to drive a car. A good percentage of my employees lack them and their cars are in my parking lot as I type this. Don't need insurance either.

-- Chuck

rob-2

No, driving is then reserved for those that can both afford to and want to. We don't have public transportation like they do in Europe because no one really enjoys taking the bus. Sorry to break it to you. I grew up with very good public transportation and I hated sharing it with the general public. Call me a snob, but I'm really not interested in sitting beside someone talk about X for 45 minutes like it matters.

Europe made a move after the war to make it a difficult thing to drive. Thus public transportation was required to move people around. $4k to get certified to drive is insane. They tax the crap out of everything driving related. They don't want people to drive.

clawhammer

It's about perspective. I'd rather not be sharing the road with someone who doesn't want to be driving and is only driving because there is no better option available. If I have to pay a bit more for this "privilege", then so be it.