[yoodenvranx]

> Your post seems odd. The autobahn is generally regarded as some of the best highway experience there is when it comes to other road users

I drive Autobahn both in Germany and Netherlands and I can tell you that driving in Germany is a 100 times more stressfull compared to NL! As soon as you cross the border to Germany everyone channels their inner race car driver and it becomes stressful. Driving in NL is much more relaxed and laid back.

[FabHK]

Well, driving in most countries but Germany is more relaxing because everyone goes at the same low speed.

You can have the same experience on a German Autobahn by staying in the right lane. You'll go at the same low speed as the trucks, nice and cozy, straight, without much worries or concentration needed.

Now, if you want to go faster, you do have the option (unlike in other countries), but then you'll have to be a bit more careful and dynamic, because it is quite possible that a car approaches you from behind faster than you approach a stationary target (if the car goes 250 km/h while you go 120 km/h, say). Of course that requires keeping an eye on not only the traffic in front, but also the traffic behind, and getting out of the way when required, so you have to change lanes quite frequently.

It is somewhat more stressful (if you choose to leave the slow lane), but that's the price you pay.

Furthermore, after a while, all this becomes second nature, and rather stress free, as long as everyone follows the rule. (What remains stressful are drivers not following the rules, eg not signalling before changing lanes, or changing into your lane when you're about to overtake them, etc.)

[blattimwind]

> Of course that requires keeping an eye on not only the traffic in front, but also the traffic behind, and getting out of the way when required, so you have to change lanes quite frequently.

This hits the nail on the head. I know people who complain intensely about Autobahn driving and when I ride with them all of them have very poor viewing technique ("Blicktechnik") and are the kind of driver that's rather oblivious to anything that happens on the road that isn't squarely in front of them. Of course, with these predispositions, just things like merging or changing lanes become stressful each time. You have to be able to do both on the Autobahn, so Autobahn = very stressful for them.

[badpun]

Trucks go at 90 kph IIRC, so going on the right lane with them only makes sense if you’re eco-conscious (or stingy) and want to burn as little fuel as possible. Here in Poland the speed limit is 140 kph, and most people either obey that or go a little over, so you can have relatively smooth and stress-free drive even in the left lane.

[joezydeco]

Since we're talking about stress, let's talk about rechts vor links in residential areas... =)

http://crankydriver.com/word/rechts-vor-links/

[yetihehe]

I have opposite experience, as soon as I go to NL, I constantly have to watch out for drivers cutting in, watch the speed limit carefully, road is more congested. Also it's sometimes too "boring" to drive, you have to watch not to sleep. Driving from Poland to Netherlands I can say Polish autobahn is the best. Least roadworks, least slowdowns to 80, least people cutting you when you try to pass, highest average speed (constant 140km/h). Only disadvantage - driving once through whole Poland costs as much as yearly vignette in Switzerland.

[geggam]

Get a ticket for 4kph over the limit in NL should fix that relax for you

[henryackerman]

Yeah 4kph over results in a slap on the wrist in Germany. Traffic fines get expensive quickly in the Netherlands! A simple parking ticket is ~95 euros >.<