You're giving them too much credit.

see i did not know that, and a bet plenty of people here didn't know either.

#75 - yeah, getting a licence here in Germany is deliberately difficult because there's (sort of) no upper speed limit on the freeways (Autobahn). There is a recommended limit of 130 km/h (80 mph), and if you actually crash over that speed, you have some explaining to do, but actually driving faster than that is OK. It's routine to drive at over 100 mph, and I know people that sometimes hit 180 mph. I was in a taxi this week that was doing 120 mph, and got overtaken. Incidentally, the trains here go around 200 mph, so it's a pretty speed-oriented country. Germans somewhat regard it as a birthright to drive fast.

That's not dangerous at all. :/ All the power to them, if everyone's taught to drive that way, but personally I'd be terrified.

It's kinda freaky when you're not used to it, and like I said, they somewhat regard it as a right, so they get the living hell fined out of them when they - say - cross the border into Switzerland, who DO have strict speed limits. They tend to think it's a deliberate revenue raising exercise aimed at Germans, rather than a legitimate safety issue. Funnily enough, that logic doesn't extend to things like pot coming across the border from The Netherlands. Generally, it's a pretty safe system, or rather - not as horribly dangerous as you'd think, but when it goes wrong, it goes wrong in a big way, with - for example - epic pile-ups in fog when people don't drive to the conditions.

yeah, that scares me. especially since my grandmother lives there now for work and knowing she drives there SCARES me because she is such a HORRIBLE driver here. i mean she thinks that everyone needs to watch out for her and she shouldn't have to pay attention around her. but the speeds there are crazy.

Wow - she'll get eaten alive out on the Autobahns! Germans aren't necessarily all driving Gods - I've seen some pretty stupid things done here, but - yeah - they're pretty unforgiving when it comes to sketchy drivers! Trivia: If you 'road rage' abuse someone here (even verbally, or flipping them off) the cops can take your licence off you, on the basis that you can't control yourself therefore can't control a car. Also, the other driver can legitimately sue you for the personal insult, sort of like a defamation case.

"...can't control yourself therefore can't control a car..." ...Why the hell can't we enforce those rules here? It might help!

I am so glad you said something. Everyone likes to say things without knowing the situation. Yes, in Germany it is so hard and costs a lot to drive around. Also, it is fun to drive there, but you can't break the rules like you can in the US, your license can get taken away so easily there.