SvennoJ said:
S.Peelman said:
I’m pretty indifferent about it.
I live in a country that’s extremely busy, even at this time, so it’s not really my hobby because it’s too much work. Though I also don’t mind, driving at night is fine because then it’s less busy obviously and it’s also the best place to sing along with songs on the radio at an inappropriate volume.
My driving history is spotty though. I got my license when I was 18 already due to peer pressure (or really, I just wanted people to shut up about it), but then proceeded to not drive once after a month or two for the next 10 years because I lived right next to a metro station. One day about three years ago I was on my way to a meeting with my boss when he asked me to drive because he had a short night. I asked if he was sure because I hadn’t driven a car in 10 years upon which he replied that it doesn’t matter; it’s an automatic and a Tesla equipped with a billion safety features. After that my mother gave me her car when she got a new one herself and I quickly began to use it regularly. |
I grew up in the Netherlands and yep, peer pressure, got my driver's license at 18 as well. I didn't buy my first car until I was 32... No need for one in Amsterdam, just a pita trying to find a parking spot. I got around a lot faster on a bike or public transport.
However before I moved to Amsterdam I lived with my parents in Apeldoorn and frequently drove their car. Most of my early experience came from the A1 over the hoge veluwe. Weekly visits to family further West made me the designated driver for the way back. Night time over the A1 before 'traject controle' was invented. 130 to 150kph while my parents were dozing off.
Driving in the Randstad during the day is a nightmare though, slow traffic all the time. I usually stayed late at the office since it was always gridlock at 5pm. No point sitting in a bus that can't go anywhere.
|
Rest assured, driving during the day in the Randstad is still a nightmare. 
I live near and work in Rotterdam, and while it’s more car-friendly than Amsterdam, due to history, it’s still bad. Even though on paper our cities don’t have that much inhabitants, the size of the built up area compared to the country and the amount of industrial traffic makes it so busy. But yeah, more to the east, like in the Veluwe as you mentioned, would be better. Driving fast like that is over now for some time though, due to some pollution thing the max speed countrywide during the day is now just 100kph. During the night it’s still 130kph.
