[ExI] Americans are poor drivers

[BillK]

On 7/8/09, Rafal Smigrodzki wrote:
<snip>
>  Which brings me to the title of the thread - Americans are lousy
>  drivers. Bumblingly slow, carelessly lounging in the passing lane at
>  snail speeds, opening a quarter of a mile distance to the next car
>  while driving in tunnels, taking their sweet time in responding to
>  traffic lights. A good private owner would certainly find a way of
>  teaching them the value of other people's time, make them give way to
>  faster, more competent drivers, stop them from carelessly causing
>  backups upstream.
>

And, just as you criticised US drivers........

<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/07/21/2009-07-21_huge_car_pileup_on_german_autobahn_results_in_scores_of_injuries_and_.html>

Tuesday, July 21st 2009, 10:52 AM

A 259-car pileup on a German autobahn has resulted in scores of
injuries, according to Germany’s The Local news.

The accident occurred on the A2 motorway in the state of Lower Saxony
late Sunday, and police believe it constituted the largest series of
collisions ever in the area.

Drivers were affected by heavy rain and impaired vision from the
setting sun, a Braunschweig state patrol spokesman told The Local.
Police blamed the collisions on excessive speed and vehicles following
one another too closely in spite of the hazardous conditions.

In total, 66 people were hurt in the pileup, and 10 of the injured
were reported to be in critical condition.

Traffic was brought to a standstill in several locations along the
highway, as officials closed sections for cleanup. An estimated 340
rescue workers were involved, and cleanup crews worked well into the
morning, The Local said.

Authorities estimate the cost of the pileup will likely be in excess
of $2.5 million.
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BillK