Nice one janisj :).

Would an American company, or more likely a Chinese company in the name of a US company, making speed cameras make it alright?

I suggest if you don't like the laws of countries you visit then don't visit. Stay safety in Ohio. Don't venture into Illinois,Oregon, Arizona or DC though.


Trophywife, obviously it is up to OP to inform the rental company of his correct details, so he can receive the fine, should it be issued. I am still puzzled that he was able to rent a vehicle without a credit card.
If he had to leave a substantial cash deposit then the company usually hangs on to it until they know there aren't any fines to come.

Anyway he hasn't been back so I don't suppose we will ever know.

There's no doubt that in countries where the speed limits are enforced, less people die in traffic accidents.
The Netherlands is much stricter than Belgium, for example. Belgian casualties are almost double those of the Netherlands (compared to population size). Nearly all European countries do better than the US.
(traffic related death rates - Wikipedia)

I don't think we'll be taking any traffic lessons from the USA any time soon.

Belgians are amongst the worst drivers in Europe.
And we have a tendency to drive under alcohol.

I found this on wikipedia, for those who like stats (I do):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ted_death_rate

The stat I looked at was the number of fatalities per billion kms driven.
Best are scandinavian states (nor surprise) and among the worst, US.
Next one worse than US : Belgians... (but we don't give driving lessons)...

Pariswat: Interesting statistics. Since most fatalities occur with speed, it would be more helpful in comparison of country to country to break out distance traveled above a certain speed rather than total distance driven. That might explain some differences, i.e. Americans spend more time at higher speeds than Europeans. Also, the majority of US traffic fatalities occur in rural areas, often at high speed 4-way intersections where Europeans nearly always put a roundabout. Roundabouts eliminate head on and 90 degree angle collisions at these types of intersections, and those types of crashes are often fatal.

JanisJ: Why is it always the same countries people complain about on this board about getting speed camera tickets (France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Switz.) and never the UK? I know the cameras are used there, and Americans widely drive there, so....

Also, I see that speed cameras are not in use in California.

Perhaps it is because those countries you mention pursue the miscreants, regardless of where they live, and the UK can't be bothered, any more than it can be bothered to charge foreigners for using the NHS.

If you break the law by speeding pay the fine if it is issued. I can't see what the problem is.
It is not immoral to issue the fine. It IS immoral not to pay it.

Americans spend more time driving at higher speeds?

Where?

The last time I was driving in the US I did not see any posted speed limits higher than 70 or 75mph.
Even the highest limits of 75-80mph are simply the same as the normal 120-130kph speed limits in Continental Europe.

Which ist surely not "higher speeds" LOL


P.S. Traffic violations expire in Switzerland after three years.

>>Also, I see that speed cameras are not in use in California.<<

That's because most of our highways have turned into parking lots. Why spend money on traffic cameras?

Great replies to tom - better not come to Australia we have cameras everywhere - red light cameras, cameras on all freeways and toll roads, speed cameras in cars placed round neighborhoods .
We can view the photo and also write to show who was driving the car when the owner receives the fine.
Our deaths in traffic collisions was cut by a third in this country after cameras and compulsory seat belts were introduced - first compulsory seat belts in world - another idea that was "against the first amendment or something " . We also have compulsory helmets for cyclists and motor cyclists .

I'm not sure that it's the enforcement of speeding laws that cause so many accidents in the US - esp since legal speeds here a usually lower than in europe.

I blame a lot of it on the fact that in the US driving tests are so easy a chimp could pass them: pull out, turn left, turn right, 3 point turn, parallel park and return to the starting point. If you signal properly and can do this (in a very quiet neighborhood) without hitting anything you will pass. It takes about 5 minutes.

My understanding is that in europe driving tests are real - take much longer and usually take the student out on a highway. If that were the case in the US many people would never pass. And the highways would be a lot safer.

>>I blame a lot of it on the fact that in the US driving tests are so easy a chimp could pass them: << . . . added to the huge numbers of people who don't have licenses at all - or drive on suspended ones.

^^^^^
and don't forget the huge numbers of people who text while driving, not to mention talking on the phone.

nytraveler, I can confirm your understanding. I'm an American, and my US license had been expired for years when I decided to get a German license. I had to do most of the course. It takes about ***three months*** to do it all, and it costs about 2000€ (it didn't cost me as much since I didn't have to do all the practice driving).

First, there were the classes on driving theory. I think there were more than 20 hours of this. I could only handle about 2 or 3 hours at each session and two sessions a week. So this portion takes about 3 or 4 weeks.

Then comes the practical driving portion -- in town, in & out of pedestrian-heavy streets, on the roads between towns (you must reduce your speed AT the town entrance, not 20 m further . . .), at night, on the autobahn, and practicing parallel parking. I think I had to do around 9 hours of this, as an experienced driver. New drivers must have to do 20 hours or so.

At the end of that, you take the test, which grades you on all of the practice points, and, yes, takes half a day.

s