Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 8/23/84; site ucbcad.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad!klein From: klein@ucbcad.UUCP (Mike Klein) Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: Re: Transportation in Europe Message-ID: <64@ucbcad.UUCP> Date: Fri, 5-Jul-85 15:19:27 EDT Article-I.D.: ucbcad.64 Posted: Fri Jul 5 15:19:27 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jul-85 01:18:39 EDT References: <62800001@hpfclr.UUCP><1611@dciem.UUCP> Organization: UC Berkeley CAD Group, Berkeley, CA Lines: 26 > drivers are courteous and aggressive at the same > time, rather than timid and rude as is so often the case here. If you > are a moderately competent driver with a controllable car, the contrast > is amazing. After driving there, I find driving here to be frustrating > and hair-raisingly dangerous. Absolutely true! I recently drove from Florence to Nice, then to Geneva. The Italians are the best drivers I have ever seen... fast but always alert, careful and courteous. Never once saw anything even hinting at a collision in Italy (like panic braking) even in Rome and Florence. The French are a cut below; Germans below that --- they are pretty bull-headed drivers. American drivers simply aren't in the same league as any of these. If you can, get a pretty fast car so you can take advantage of the great roads. There are speed limits on all roads that I was on but take your hint from the traffic flow. I did see a Maserati pulled over in Italy, but he had been going at least 180-200 km/hr. When you do rent, make sure you know the charges for taxes (can be over 30%!!) and drop-off (if renting and returning in different countries). I found the entire experience to be pleasurable and would recommend it over even a Eurailpass if you think you'll like driving. -- -Mike Klein ...!ucbvax!ucbmerlin:klein (UUCP) klein%ucbmerlin@berkeley (ARPA)