Autobahn Anger
 

Lately it seems many German men driving on the Autobahn have become very aggressive and angry. It used to be that many of the drivers were just fast, now it seems they're fast, aggressive and very angry. I can't put my finger on it but there seems to be an anger and self-importance in these men(and the ones we've seen last 2 trips were men) driving big sedans like S class Mercedes/BMW/Audi who drive at over 200km/h and who seem furious with anyone and everyone on the road. They're very disrespectful. And no, we were not in the left lane blocking their progress, we were in the right lane being driven by German friends. Has anyone else noticed this?

Almost everyone raves about how safe German drivers are but we saw drivers driving dangerously fast, 240km/h at night seems dangerous, and I can't tell you about the number of bad accidents we saw.

Traffic culture in Germany has been equally aggressive for as long as I can remember. On the Autobahn is just visual intimidation but in the cities you get motorists, cyclists and pedestrians shouting obscenities at each other and threatening with law suits on a daily basis.

Autobahn fear
 

I wasn't as much outraged as fearful last week on the 19th Oct. My driver picked me up at FRA to drive me to Darmstadt (JagdSchloss Kranichstein) and while he drove at 200kph, he sipped his coffee, smoked a cigarette, talked on his mobile phone, made notes on his knee-pad, and occasionally made small talk with me. I can drive with my left knee, but I don't usually do it at 160mph. We arrived in one piece.
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Agree with you completely. Driving in Germany is just horrible, and it's getting worse and worse every year. I decided do give up driving because of that long ago, and have been using public transport ever since.
German drivers are looking at the law (if others are concerned) or at their advantage (if they themselves are concerned).

I am German, by the way.

Try driving on the Cross Bronx Expressway or the Long Island Expressway. Talk about agressive / nasty drivers! I found drivers in Germany much more disciplined than those in metro NY. Of course, there are always a few a**holes wherever you go.

Amen to that last sentence.

My take on German drivers (and I also happen to be one) is this:

Germany requires quite a bit of formal driving education before you're given a license, so most people really know how to drive. The guys in the S-Classes, BMW 7s and Audi A8s usually put in a lot of miles every year, so they've got plenty of practice, and at high speeds, practice is what you need to stay safe.

Another thing: when you're driving fast, you stay really focused (or at least I do). I think it's at least as dangerous to be crawling along at 100 kph (60 miles) like in the States or in Scandinavia because your mind starts to wander or you start daydreaming and that's when accidents happen.

Interestingly enough, the US DOT's statistics for 2004 show 42,636 road accident fatalities on American roads in that year. According to the German Federal Statistics Office, there were 7,792 in Germany the same year. Given that the US has a population of just under 300 million, and Germany a population of just over 80 million, you get just over 14 fatalities per year per 100,000 people in the US compared with just under 10 per 100,000 in Germany. Personally, I like my odds this side of the pond...

I think your statistic is wrong .. you need a car to drive, USA has more cars per capita than Germany. Florida has more cars then people.

You can find aggressive drivers, bad drivers all over the world ...
Driving fast can be dangerous ... but it mostly needs two (drivers) who make a mistake, ending up in an accident.

Bottom line: There is nothing wrong driving fast (not aggressive!), just be alert and polite.

I wonder if accidents per number of cars is the ideal metric. How about accidents per mile driven?

You can find aggressive driving all over the world. If you're not comfortable driving in a given country or region, don't drive there. If you're afraid of taking the bus or a cab, go to a different country.

Johannesburg and Cairo are the worst...
 

From my own experience, mind you...

Cairo really had some of the worst and most aggressive drivers imaginable. Every car had scraps and bruises from collisions, yet few seemed bothered to fix them apparently as it was assured to happene again anyway. But I was only there for a few days, yet it left an impression.

I really get frustrated by the drivers in Johannesburg. The drivers there are exceedingly arrogant and overly self-confident, yet drive like incredulous, screaming children. They seem to combine the stereotypical stupidity and nonchalance of American drivers with the aggressiveness and anger of Germans. Not a good combination. Everyone, especially people in VW Golfs and lower end BMW 3-series models and brand new BMW 5-series models, seem intent on showing their prowness behind the wheel. As if!!!!

The taxi drivers are also horrible, but at least they don not have attitude.

My experience with the autobahns was always positive. But then I mostly had experience on the piece between Starnberg and Munich, which always seemed empty. But it was a perfect little stretch of road: wooded, traffic rare, few exits... going 180km/h was both normal and seemed very safe. I also found most drivers to be courtious, firm and aggressive, but pleasant. Everyone was expected to follow the rules (i.e. stay right), and most did, making for an enjoyable driving experience.

Funny story (I think so anyway). Driving with some friends in my dad's car through Friday afternoon traffic. A guy in a Porsche cabriolet (probably mid 30s) is swerving in and out of traffic, accelerating and decelerating, cutting people off, driving where he shouldn't, yet he is getting absolutely nowhere. He almost hits us while doing one of his maneuvers; he also seems very mean and intent on showing everyone who is boss. We catch up to him again at a light, for the umteenth time, us driving very calmly and relaxed, and my friend opens the window, leans out, and yells "Sorry about your penis!" Got some cheers from other drivers, and a very pissed off Porsch driver.

I agree, accidents per mile driven would be a good benchmark.

I am not afraid of driving anywhere....as said before, it mostly needs two "bad" drivers to get into an accident. I am more concerned that the car gets stolen and about the parking situation.

Back to the topic: I don't think German drivers are more dangerous than others. Even US drivers can do dumb thinks. I was driving on I-75 about 78 mph on the middle lane. Left lane was free, and a driver was passing me on the right lane with 90+ mph. Later a bunch of motor bikers passed BETWEEN cars with at least 110+ mph. That was scary! Some of them were caught ... I don't know how the state troupers managed to catch them.

Let me get this straight. There's a place where you can get in your car and plant your foot through the floorboards and that's OK? :D Yeah it's crazy and stupid but thank god for the Autobahn. Long may it reign. ^ ^ To the OP, don't get too nervous mate. Enjoy the ride. ;)

I'll agree on that one as well. Last time I was over in Germany, I got a car (MB C-class Kompressor) that let me actually really enjoy the pleasures of the left lane. When I drive in Germany, I notice that I'm much more alert, looking a few cars ahead to see slowdowns, and *much* more aware of what's coming up behind me (since you're required to move over for faster-moving traffic on the autobahn).

Plus, even with that, you're still accellerating / decelerating more often than a rural US interstate, so you don't get lulled into that "zone" when you've got the cruise control on.

Every time I come back home to Chicago, I spend the first week or so frustrated at all the clueless people on the road clogging the left lane, not paying atention, etc. that I just didn't have to deal with in Germany.

And that's really all that's expected. Keep your eyes open, and keep out of the way when possible and necessary. The only times you get problems is when you get some jerk who thinks 10 meters of space between two cars in the right lane makes it possible...

NICE! ^ ^ ^ Gotta remember that...

This is one reason why I believe horns in cars should be replaced by megaphones :D

I can think of worse drivers than the Germans. I thought driving was bad in the Philippines, but that was before I set foot in Italy. My goodness, those people have no fear whatsoever!

Ditto. The Mercedes and BMWs (but usually Mercedes), were pulling these same stunts back in the late 60's. Headlights flashing, they would pull up right onto our tail from seemingly out of nowhere.