Gas Tip of the Day

There are reports that some gas stations in Lexington are listing their gas prices at one price on the sign, but then at the pump are actually charging a different price. The Swifty station on New Circle Rd. actually got shut down for this for a period of time at the send of September.

E-Break Tip of the Day

Have you ever wondered what pulling your emergency break would do while traveling at a high rate of speed? Well don't, it's not good. In 100% of the cases we studied (totaling 2) we found that boyfriends and girlfriends broke-up not too long after the incident if both were in the car during the event.

The E-Brake, "a great way to put a quick stop on your relationship!"

London Tip of the Day Part 3

No, in Germany, they don't drive on the left side of the road, but yes in England they do. Foot traffic is even opposite. Have no fear though, there are signs everywhere not only to remind you which side of the hall (in the subway stations) to walk on, but also where to look for traffic!

Parking Lot Tip of the Day

When you park your car in a parking lot its a good idea to pay attention to where you park. Otherwise you may open a door to a red Honda civic thinking what an idiot you are for not locking your car and leaving the driver's window rolled down and sit down in the driver's seat only to realize it's not your car!

Driving in Germany Tip of the Day Part 5

Speed limit going from 130 to 100 on a rainy day? A recommended speed of 130? Yes, I said that. Just remember that speed limits in Germany, where they drive on the right side of the road (it's England that drives on the left), are in km/h, not mph. So, 100 really means 62. And, 130 is around 80. So, it's really not quite as fast as you'd think. It's also interesting looking at cars without American specifications, as they always tell you how many kilometers are on the car, and how many kilometers you get per liter of gas. Prices of gas are insane. They look great when you get here...€1.35 for regular fuel. But, that's Euro's per liter. So, you're looking at $6.84 gallon. Feel lucky when you go to the pump today! I hear Italy had a week long gas strike last week! And, I don't want to drive in England where the dollar is doing even worse!

Driving in Germany Tip of the Day Part 4

Just because there are no stop signs (there are only a few, and most of them are near the American bases), doesn't mean that you don't have to stop. In the case that there is no sign on your road, you have to yield to a driver coming from the right. It looks funny, but at every intersection on a non-priority road, drivers slow and crane their necks to the right to see if anyone is coming. If you have a priority road, you'll see a yellow diamond inside a white diamond up and down the road. If you're approaching a priority road from the right, you'll have a yield sign. There are lights, and for some reason, you'll see stop signs almost exclusively accompanying stoplights. There is one funny thing about it though...the light turns yellow before turning green too. And, a right turn is NOT allowed on red. I'm sure we come to Germany to drive as fast as we want on the autobahn. I'm sure Germans want to drive in the states so they can turn right on red!

Driving in Germany Tip of the Day Part 3

In the states, to get to where you're going, lost or not, if you know the general direction of your destination, you're set to go. Going from Lexington to Louisville, head west. To go from Lexington to Connecticut,drive in a north easterly direction. In Germany, however, there are no indications on the autobahn (their word for highway, just in case anyone thought it was a specific road over here) of direction. Your city may also not be listed. For example, to get to Frankfurt, I first have to head toward Kaiserslautern on two separate autobahns before I see a sign to Frankfurt. Because there are no signs for Baumholder, coming back, I have to head toward Mainz, then something I can't remember, then Kaiserslautern, then Kuzel, then finally I exit at Fraisen. So, you really have to know the towns that are close by, and where they are in relation to you in order to get to your final destination. And, rather than saying, well, I headed east to get here, so I go west to go home, you have to remember if you passed the destination on the way there to determine if you go towards it on the way back (like heading to Trier both on the way to Luxembourg and on the way back). Maps and GPS are my friends!

Driving in Germany Tip of the Day Part 2

Be extra cautious when spending New Years in Germany. The parties are bigger, and the beers are bigger. Not only are the beers about 60% larger than they are in the states, but they also contain 5% alcohol rather than the US standard of 3.5%. Yes, getting a beer at a bar is cheaper than buying a carbonated beverage, but if you're driving, that one beer thing might not be low enough. The legal limit for driving under the influence in Germany (DUI), is .05, unlike in the states where it is .08. Now, they do grade the punishment based on how over the limit you are, but all punishments come with at least a night in the slammer waiting for your buddies to bail you out. Or, the higher ranking officer if you're in the military. Or, the principal if you are a teacher. I've been told, however, that for the German New Year's celebration, the fireworks start at 11 and go well past 2 am with the whole town firing them off so you can see them at all 360 degrees!
To review, bigger parties, bigger beer, more alcohol per amount, and lower legal limit.

Driving in Germany Tip of the Day Part 1

The speed limit changes. I know, we've all heard that on the autobahn, you can drive as fast as you want, because there is no speed limit. On many parts (the parts that say 130), that's essentially true. Now, the 130 is a recommended speed, not a speed limit. This means, if you're exceeding that speed and get in an accident, its automatically your fault, no matter what. This is especially true if you're an American. General rule of thumb, if you're an American driving over here, and they can make it our fault, then it is.
But, just because it was 130 on your way to Kaiserslautern yesterday, doesn't mean that it is today. They have adjustable speed limits. They are done digitally, so on a particularly windy day, the speed limit will be lower going over a bridge. On a rainy day, it will be lower everywhere. While I don't believe these places are monitored with cameras, as are the smaller roads, it's for your safety that you follow these general guidelines.

Travel to Europe Part II

You're in Europe, cruising the autobahns and roadways. You see zero cops and think, "Hey, you only live once." Don't succumb to temptation. There is video surveillance throughout Europe and you may receive a hefty ticket a couple months later.

Also, if someone is following you, don't go 100 mph. It's hard to follow, especially in the rain and the dark. An indication that you might be going to fast is when the front seat passenger puts on her sunglasses (at night) to keep herself from getting too scared.