Driving in Germany

I like it that you can drive 1cm behind someone at 200kmh with my hazard lights on as a polite"excuse Me"

Firstly, it's the left indicator which is used as a polite "excuse me".
Secondly, think yourself lucky you're getting a polite "excuse me". If I could legally ram you off the road for being in an overtaking lane when you're not overtaking, I bloody well would, you selfish thicko twat. (not you, John - just speaking in general)
Thirdly, just because you'll be moving into the left hand lane in 30 kilometres when the motorway splits, does not mean that you have to stay in the left hand lane now. If you find changing lane such a challenge to your driving ability, stay at home.
Fourthly, if I'm overtaking someone, I will use the overtaking lane. If you happen to be going faster than me but are behind me, you should depress the pedal marked "B" with the foot marked "R" and wait for me to finish my overtaking manoeuvre. If you flash me or indicate left I will slow down and then you'll have to slow down even more, won't you? You knob-jockey.

Jean-Pierre

Hello John, where do you get an idea like that?

I do hope it was meant satirically, otherwise:

You are legally required to maintain a distance of at least "half the speedo value in metres" to the car in front.

See here for how much breaking this rule, and a few others, costs!

In your case: That would be driving with less than 1/10th of half of the speedo value (200 / 2 = 100. 100 / 10 = 10m) distance to the car in front. Costs €174,-- and 4 points on your licence, not to forget the 1 month driving ban, for the first offence. And that's only if they catch you doing it (Video from the bridges and unmarked cars are in common operation).

If you frighten someone doing that, you can get reported for "Nötigung", which is a henious offence on the road here. If that person also has an accident, even if it is only because of him gesticulating at you, then you really have trouble big time.

There was a case recently, where a woman drove off the road and killed herself. Various witnesses testified that a large Mercedes had driven up close behind her and this seemed to have frightened her into changing lanes suddenly and losing control of her car. The Mercedes driver went to prison on the strength of this evidence.

Never get closer than 1 Sec space and you're okay. Don't flash or blink alot, this in itself is "Nötigung". This is also getting reported more often because the people get on the cellular and report you straight away, rather than just thinking about it but having cooled off by the time they get anywhere they could report it.

@ Badboy:

There are speed limits, even where there are no speed limit signs.

Unless otherwise signposted, there is an absolute maximum of 50 km/h after those nice little yellow signs with the town name, which tell you you are entering a built-up area.

Absolute max 100km/h on country roads.

There is a recommended maximum of 130 on the Autobahn, driving faster than this automatically means you are at least partly to blame for any accident you may be involved in, no matter how it happened.

Not a lot different to the UK really. Just that you are allowed to drive faster than 130, as long as nothing happens.

Remember, for the average "good" driver, other drivers can be classed in 2 categories:

Idiots: are all those, who drive more slowly, or otherwise get in the way.

Maniacs: are all those, who drive faster, or are not prepared to be patient towards the average "good" driver.

Never get closer than 1 Sec space and you're okay? Fool! (not being rude, see below!)

You must not be aware of the 2 second rule in that case??? :excl:

If you can say "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" between the car in front of you passing an obstacle and you passing it, then you have a good guide to a safe distance between you!

Of course I am, however, the subject of discussion was what is allowed in Germany.

Then, we must also consider that 2 secs at motorway speed leaves enough space for people to want to drive into, so then you're back where you started, maybe worse off.

There again, it makes a difference if you learned the 2 second rule from a tabloid, or from an advanced driving course. If it was from the latter, you would also be aware that 1 sec is also safe in normal road conditions, if you are alert and your plan is up to scratch, you have identified the possibilities of the traffic situation and have an escape route. We also shouldn't forget to add 1 sec to the gap when the road is wet, and a lot more if it is slippery/icy...

Safe and efficient driving is about continuous practical adaption, not hard and fast rules. Being nicked is always about hard and fast rules. If you read the table, you would see that you don't get nicked here until you're less than 1/4 speedo in metres behind, or 50m @ 200 km/h. 1 sec gap at that speed is 55,5m. QED

This does infuriate me, I always try and drive with a safe distance between me and the car in front. I often find that someone dives into this gap, forcing me to slow down to maintain the distance to the car in front. Then, of course, someone zips into the new gap etc...

Thats the problem Adriang,

Even if you do want to drive consideratly, you find that you must change your style otherwise you get nowhere!

Duncan.

What I like, the fact most everyone moves to the right and lets you pass, problem is if your drive fast, say 150+ and you mvoe to the right to let someone pass just as some one going much slowing moves into the middle lane to pass.

Have to be carefull on that one, has happen to me a few times on the Frnakfurt Munich run which I do every week.