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Worth noting that US military that are stationed in Germany must take a test before receiving a US Army Europe license (they run the program for all US military

by jcurbo 13y ago

Worth noting that US military that are stationed in Germany must take a test before receiving a US Army Europe license (they run the program for all US military in Germany) in order to drive in Germany. Based on my experience (got there in 2004), the test was not that easy and did require a bit of studying, especially for road signs and the rules at intersections, which are a little bit different than US rules, from what I can remember.

thrownaway2424 13y ago
The US military is semi-enlightened with regard to traffic safety in that they often insist on extra training even for domestically stationed personnel. For example some branches and some bases require all enlisted personnel to undertake basic motorcycle safety training before they are permitted to ride motorcycles, even though most states do not require such training. There are also branches and/or bases where servicemen returning from overseas deployments are required to take refresher driving courses before they are permitted to drive their cars again. On any installation the local regulations are up to the post commander; some of them are more strict than others. It is amusing that the US military is in some ways the most highly regulated and the most European-like in their regulations, due to the fact that commanders have broad authority and the services provide universal health care and housing for enlisted men and their families. They have good incentives to establish standards of vehicle safety.
- rdl 13y ago
  A lot of that is that losing your forces due to non-combat accidents can hurt your mission. In addition to broad authority to regulate lives, they're given responsibility for accomplishing a mission; that doesn't really exist in the wider world (what is the "mission" of the USA, or really any country, w.r.t. its citizens? This becomes a philosophical debate rapidly.) IIRC, more junior enlisted Marines were dying from motorcycle accidents, per capita, back at their home bases (it might have been specific to San Diego), than in combat in Fallujah. (OTOH, they went overboard with things like the PT belts...)
chiph 13y ago
The USAFE/USAREUR driving test is way more difficult than any test in the states. But still far easier than the tests the Germans themselves have to pass. The priority road concept, with unmarked intersections, is one that wouldn't work all that well in the US.

by jcurbo 13y ago

thrownaway2424 13y ago

The US military is semi-enlightened with regard to traffic safety in that they often insist on extra training even for domestically stationed personnel. For example some branches and some bases require all enlisted personnel to undertake basic motorcycle safety training before they are permitted to ride motorcycles, even though most states do not require such training. There are also branches and/or bases where servicemen returning from overseas deployments are required to take refresher driving courses before they are permitted to drive their cars again. On any installation the local regulations are up to the post commander; some of them are more strict than others. It is amusing that the US military is in some ways the most highly regulated and the most European-like in their regulations, due to the fact that commanders have broad authority and the services provide universal health care and housing for enlisted men and their families. They have good incentives to establish standards of vehicle safety.

rdl 13y ago
A lot of that is that losing your forces due to non-combat accidents can hurt your mission. In addition to broad authority to regulate lives, they're given responsibility for accomplishing a mission; that doesn't really exist in the wider world (what is the "mission" of the USA, or really any country, w.r.t. its citizens? This becomes a philosophical debate rapidly.) IIRC, more junior enlisted Marines were dying from motorcycle accidents, per capita, back at their home bases (it might have been specific to San Diego), than in combat in Fallujah. (OTOH, they went overboard with things like the PT belts...)

chiph 13y ago

The USAFE/USAREUR driving test is way more difficult than any test in the states. But still far easier than the tests the Germans themselves have to pass. The priority road concept, with unmarked intersections, is one that wouldn't work all that well in the US.