Dimitri Europe 2024

We're driving from Leipzig to Nuremberg.

On the way, some ideas on what they do here that we could adopt:

1. The autobahn. Many parts of the German motorway have no speed limit. Drivers are trusted to travel at the speed they judge appropriate for the conditions. Traffic flows smoothly here, and we have seen zero accidents. The drivers seem about the same skill, and the roads the same quality, as those in NZ. Being able to travel at 150km/h, for example, means we get somewhere 50% faster and can enjoy more time there. This only works on long straight-ish stretches however - with 2 or 3 lanes. Like Transmission Gully until Foxton

2. The fundt ("deposit") system. You buy a drink in a plastic drink bottle. You drink it empty. You return the bottle to the supermarket in reusable condition (not squashed). They refund you 0.25 EUR a bottle. The amount is meaningful enough to incentivise two behaviors: (a) ordinary ppl to recycle each time they visit a Lidl and (b) has created an industry of people going around gathering stray bottles (or even grabbing the ones you're holding).

3. Red lights turn yellow before going green. Gets the front car ready - there is less delay at the lights.

Pictures: 1. Our car (Hyundai G70 Genesis) 2. Finn returning fundt bottles. 3. Watching Italy-Croatia 4. LeipzigRead more