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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!orca!shark!davew
From: davew@shark.UUCP (Dave Williams)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal
Subject: Re: Speed limits in other countries
Message-ID: <1558@shark.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Oct-85 13:55:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: shark.1558
Posted: Tue Oct  1 13:55:00 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Oct-85 04:54:37 EDT
References: <1081@homxa.UUCP> <4891@allegra.UUCP>
Reply-To: davew@shark.UUCP (Dave Williams)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Graphic Workstations Division
Lines: 38
Xref: watmath net.auto:8370 net.legal:2412
Summary: 

>>The *Economist* wondered why the deadly accident rate in Holland is much
>>higher than in Belgium, despite the similar characteristics of
>>the two countries.  Holland has a lower speed limit than Belgium, too!
>>
>>                                       Marco Valtorta
>
In article <1692@peora.UUCP> joel@peora.UUCP (Joel Upchurch) writes:
>	Do you have the countries reversed here? According to my
>	almanac the reverse is true Belgium has 6.3 deaths per
>	100 million vechicle-kilometers to 3.5 for the Netherlands.

Having driven in both countries I can't help but believe that Belgium would
have the worse fatality rating. The roads in Holland are all generally well
maintained and well marked. The max. speed limit is 100 kph which few obey
if the Rijks Politie aren't in the area. The drivers in Holland must pass
a stiff licensing test and must have had a certain amount of hours training
with licensed instructor. Belgian secondary roads are not as good. There still
are a lot of cobblestones that makes driving a real chore. 
Roads in Belgium are poorly marked and there is much more congestion in the
cities and on secondary roads.  Until recently
Belgian drivers did not need a driver's license. The drivers in Belgian are
generally slower, but less predicable, much like the drivers in Washington
state on this side of the pond. ;-}  The Dutch drivers seem to have cars
equipped with binary throttles, full on or full off. The biggest danger in
Holland comes from the fact that so many roads are built on dikes. They are
usually narrow with steep banks and lots of cold water at the bottom. If you
go off the road you had better be a good swimmer.
-- 


                                    Dave Williams
                                    Tektronix, Inc.
                                    Graphic Workstations Division
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