DRIVING COUNTRY ROUTES IN EUROPE
Dec 21st, 2011, 06:04 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
DRIVING COUNTRY ROUTES IN EUROPE
I have been driving all around the world for over 50 years. 2010 will be red-letter year for us.
Driving in Austria during October on a very, very narrow 2-Way divided lane road (the dividing line is white, unlike in USA where it is 2 double yellow lines) probably both my car as well as the car in the opposite lane came too close to each other and both our rear view mirrors happened to contact and broke.
Our nightmare had just begun. Making phone calls to report Avis Accidents department was a nightmare because of language problems and no one gave any positive answers as to what needs to be done.
Only on the last day were we told when we returned the car in Munich, Germany that documentation would be mailed to us in 30 days. I had to handover the car and keys to the rep without getting even a receipt.
Avis Germany makes you sign off when renting that they have the right to make any credit card charges to your account for a year.
We eventually realized in November 2010 that our credit card was charged US$687.00 in October 2010. My Visa credit card covered that expense after documentation and reimbursed the full amount to me.
In my February 2011 Visa card statement we saw an Avis, Germany charge of US$687.00. It is took Visa USA till June 2011 to get their German bank to reverse the DUPLICATE charges.
In retrospect and hindsight, all this happens because of no European Union boundaries between countries in most of Europe, there are people traveling all around without realizing that driving conditions vary from country to country and may also be driving without licenses or driving knowledge.
Cars are also stolen and driven back to chop shops and disassembled. Avis has the following sign at their Munich counter: "WE DO NOT RENT MERCEDES CARS TO ITALY AS THEY GET STOLEN".
They are either reckless or too fast for those roads and both are recipes for disaster. Driver beware!
Goody Kerawalla
Driving in Austria during October on a very, very narrow 2-Way divided lane road (the dividing line is white, unlike in USA where it is 2 double yellow lines) probably both my car as well as the car in the opposite lane came too close to each other and both our rear view mirrors happened to contact and broke.
Our nightmare had just begun. Making phone calls to report Avis Accidents department was a nightmare because of language problems and no one gave any positive answers as to what needs to be done.
Only on the last day were we told when we returned the car in Munich, Germany that documentation would be mailed to us in 30 days. I had to handover the car and keys to the rep without getting even a receipt.
Avis Germany makes you sign off when renting that they have the right to make any credit card charges to your account for a year.
We eventually realized in November 2010 that our credit card was charged US$687.00 in October 2010. My Visa credit card covered that expense after documentation and reimbursed the full amount to me.
In my February 2011 Visa card statement we saw an Avis, Germany charge of US$687.00. It is took Visa USA till June 2011 to get their German bank to reverse the DUPLICATE charges.
In retrospect and hindsight, all this happens because of no European Union boundaries between countries in most of Europe, there are people traveling all around without realizing that driving conditions vary from country to country and may also be driving without licenses or driving knowledge.
Cars are also stolen and driven back to chop shops and disassembled. Avis has the following sign at their Munich counter: "WE DO NOT RENT MERCEDES CARS TO ITALY AS THEY GET STOLEN".
They are either reckless or too fast for those roads and both are recipes for disaster. Driver beware!
Goody Kerawalla
Dec 21st, 2011, 06:43 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not sure I understand.
...there are people traveling all around without realizing that driving conditions vary from country to country and may also be driving without licenses or driving knowledge....
I'm a driver, and I adjust based on conditions. Don't most divers? How would someone be driving without a licence?
..they are either reckless or too fast for those roads and both are recipes for disaster...
How is this different than any other country? I drive differently at home because I know the roads and rules. Was the person you come into contact with another tourist?
I've driven in Austria. Also driven in Ireland where the roads are more trails, and are 1.5 cars wide. I've also driven in Istanbul, where volume and rules of the road are quite different.
...there are people traveling all around without realizing that driving conditions vary from country to country and may also be driving without licenses or driving knowledge....
I'm a driver, and I adjust based on conditions. Don't most divers? How would someone be driving without a licence?
..they are either reckless or too fast for those roads and both are recipes for disaster...
How is this different than any other country? I drive differently at home because I know the roads and rules. Was the person you come into contact with another tourist?
I've driven in Austria. Also driven in Ireland where the roads are more trails, and are 1.5 cars wide. I've also driven in Istanbul, where volume and rules of the road are quite different.
Dec 21st, 2011, 08:00 AM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,016
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Like the other posters I'm not sure what your point is. You had an accident, Visa paid for it, and dealt with the double payment. You did not suffer in any way.
I would hazard a guess that there are far fewer drivers without a licence or insurance in the EU than in the US. People have to take a test to get their driving licence, after having proper training. Third party insurance is compulsory - in many countries you cannot transfer ownership of a car without first having insurance on it.
A white line in the middle of the road is normal throughout Europe. A solid one, or double solid means no overtaking allowed, a dashed line means overtaking allowed - if safe!
Since you managed to collide with an oncoming vehicle perhaps you were the one being reckless or driving too fast or both?
I would have thought no matter where in the world you drive it is always a case of driver beware.
I would hazard a guess that there are far fewer drivers without a licence or insurance in the EU than in the US. People have to take a test to get their driving licence, after having proper training. Third party insurance is compulsory - in many countries you cannot transfer ownership of a car without first having insurance on it.
A white line in the middle of the road is normal throughout Europe. A solid one, or double solid means no overtaking allowed, a dashed line means overtaking allowed - if safe!
Since you managed to collide with an oncoming vehicle perhaps you were the one being reckless or driving too fast or both?
I would have thought no matter where in the world you drive it is always a case of driver beware.
