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)