Originally Posted by philclement

Autobahn-type roads here in Canada? Impossible!! I lived in Europe for several years and I can state categorically that Canadian drivers will never reach the maturity level of European drivers because they lack one very simple quality - "courtesy". In Europe, young folks learn how to drink alcohol and act in a socially responsible manner long before they are ever eligible to apply for a driver's license (typically at the age of 18). Obtaining a driver's license in Germany for example is a long and arduous process (usually two to three years). Driving privileges in a European country is difficult to obtain and easy to lose. On the other hand, our North American culture makes it very easy to obtain driving privileges and requires quite a number of "screw ups" to lose it. We give our kids licenses at 16, then teach them the social responsibility of drinking and driving three years later. We have it backwards.