Differences between driving in Germany and Canada

Hi,

I'm renting a car and driving from Frankfurt to Freiburg. Stopping (maybe) in Heidelberg and Triberg. What's the best most scenic way to get to Triberg? Plus, I have never driven in Germany. What are the differences between driving here and in Canada? Is there no turning right on the red light? Anything else I should be aware of?

I can drive here with a Canadian driver's licence, right?

Thanks!

If there is a green arrow sign, you may turn right at red lights

Having stopped at the halt line...

I would think you would also want to keep an eye glued to the rear-view mirror when on the Autobahn as that small dot behind you rapidly becomes a Porsche/Merc/BMW (all black).

Die Deutsche Uhrenstraße

Brian's Guide to Getting Around Germany - Driving

As a Canadian the hardest thing i had to get used to was the "yield to the car on the right" rule. Two vehicles entering an intersection at the same time, if there are no yield signs then it is the car on the right which has the right of way - regardless of whether your road appears to be the "major" road.

Would also advise you to do some research on the signage you'll encounter, or you might be mystified by a lot of it. Or get your car towed away cuz you've unwittingly parked in a no parking zone.

Canadian drivers license will be OK.

Canadian lisence is fine for your first six months and you can get it extended for up to a year, if you are infact only temporarily here. Also good to note is the right of way sign which is a white diamond with a little yellow diamond inside it.

this is a good guide to German road signs.

Another thing to note is, that while in Canada it is acceptable to pass people on the right, this is a major no no in Germany. Other than that Driving in Germany is a joy. Have fun!

In Canada it is also "acceptable" to trundle along in the passing lane, also a major no-no here. On a recent trip back to British Columbia I was appalled at how many truly awful drivers cluttered up the roads. Yakking on their cellphones, leaving their turn signals on for miles and miles, forgetting to signal, asleep at stop lights - and the junker cars! Held together with binder twine and a prayer. I get the feeling it's kind of Darwinian on German roads. Those types are quickly weeded out, if you know what I mean.

yes Canadian drivers (relative to German drivers) are crap. Just as Canadian cars don't have to worry about something as serious as the TÜV and therefore their are a lot more shoddy and failing cars driving around in Canada. However I think the states are the worst for that though, some of the junkers you see.

You have to keep in mind though the biggest skill in driving in Canada is staying awake. Driving massive distances all the time with absolutely nothing there, at a max speed of 100 km/h?! People just don't need to know how to drive, let alone parallel park.

you betcha! try coming from the flat Prairies! Drove Wpg to Edmonton in one stretch 1400 kms, but only took us 11.5 hours (Alberta you can go 120- they are more civilized there). Oh, word of wisdom- there are no trees once you leave Manitoba for road side stops!

Driving here can be fun, but also stressful, watch the rearview mirror for the fast cars riding up your ass, they have no respect.

If you have been here over 6 months, technically, you cannot drive on your Canadian License, but you can still convert it to a german one.

On the contrary! I was in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and in all three cities everyone's talking about how much traffic there is, how long it takes to drive to work nowadays, yadda yadda. Sure there are areas where there are miles and miles of nothing but bush but that doesn't mean you can just forget the rules of the road.

Another thing I couldn't believe was the state of the "highway" between Calgary and Edmonton. It's turned into a goat trail it's chewed up so bad.

I stand by my sweeping generalization. You have just listed three of the five cities in Canada that actually require some city driving skills, but still nothing compared to driving in a city in Europe.

I've only been here 2.5 months, and leaving in the middle of September, so I guess I'm fine with my Canadian license.

You guys got me worried about driving here.

I come from Toronto. Is that one fo the five cities?

Considering that Canada's population is mostly urban, then your generalisation can be swept under the rug.