The article and some replies talk about Europe and the few cops they see on the road. Well the speed traps are still there but they are
handled differently. In the Netherlands, where I grew up, you will find automatic cameras along the road. When you drive to fast a picture is taken and a few days later you will find a notice in the mail stating that you drove too fast and that you owe X amount of euros.
So they don't need cops on the road to get the speeders.

One other thing. Getting a license in Europe is generally a lot harder than getting it in the USA. For example I had 35 hours on the road training and then passed the written en drive exam. Passing both exams at the first time is pretty unusual. A friend of mine didn't pass his driving test because at the end of the exam while stepping out of the car he forgot to check for traffic before he opened the door to step out of the car.
Compare this to the 2.5 hours it took me to get my license in Illinois, most of that time was waiting for the next step in the process. The driving test was a joke, a drive around the block. The written test easy and if you fail you can start a new one right away.

So part of it has to do with education. While I think the 35 hours in the Netherlands are a little excessive but there is something to say for good education.

I recently moved to California (bay area) and I noticed a trend that I had not seen that much in Illinois. There are lot of cars on the highways around the bay area that drive slower than the posted speed limit. Why would you drive 55 MPH when the limit is 65 MPH? It is really putting yourself and others on the road in danger.

Just my 2 cents,

Lolke
'01 9-5 SE Wgn

posted by 216.113.168...

• The American Driver, thor-in-2004, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 04:43:49
  • In the U.S. it does depend on where you are.., Noel, Thu, 1 Dec 2005 06:23:51
  • Re: The American Driver, TML , Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:31:07
  • waxing poetic, ryanathp, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:55:24
  • Re: The American Driver, George on the Cape, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 13:38:10
  • American Driver's Ed?, Bill H., Wed, 30 Nov 2005 13:34:22
  • Europe, Lolke Bijlsma, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 11:05:38 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Pilots License in USA = Drivers License in Europe, NickR, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:15:39
  • "Obliviousness, Sloth and Self-Righteousness", RS , Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:33:59
  • Peter Egan,...easy to relate, 91Aero.jr, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:19:16
  • Sounds pretty accurate., WFVIGGEN, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:04:06
  • The Next Generation American Driver, JimN, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:56:41
  • Well some Canadian drivers are ignorant too ..., MailOrderSupplies, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:36:02
    • I don't think so ....., GMcGrath, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:58:18
  • he's right for the most part, Canadian_Saab, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:00:28
  • Just back from Europe yesterday...., Randy Thatcher , Wed, 30 Nov 2005 08:54:38
    • I've driven only twice in Europe, Erik, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:15:12
      • Ah.. Northern vs. Southern Europe..., LeoNL, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 13:41:11
    • Could agree more. Well said. n/m, SaabSpeed, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 11:37:20
  • True that Illinois is an embarrasment to Ike ->, michael p, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 08:10:13
  • not really american specific, jp, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 07:01:44
  • good observation about interstate highways, Erik, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 07:00:05
  • So true... Driving lessons should be manadory, LeoNL, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 06:41:17
  • Re: The American Driver, yaofeng, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 06:12:15
  • Re: The American Driver, SeeVTSaab, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 05:29:13
    • Re: The American Driver, AdamB , Wed, 30 Nov 2005 06:04:37
      • Re: The American Driver, DCMaguire, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 06:39:35
        • Re: The American Driver, Jonathan Smith, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 20:03:00
          • Re: The American Driver, DCMaguire, Thu, 1 Dec 2005 06:18:40
        • Quebec Plates, Trev, Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:03:20

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