My work often takes me abroad for 7 to 10 days, sometimes even half a month. To ensure convenient travel, my company arranges self-drive rental cars wherever available. This is easily done in Europe and the US. Regrettably, driving is not possible in Japan, as Vietnam is not a signatory to the same international convention.

I have driven on vast highways with ten lanes in each direction in California and extensively on Germany's Autobahn. Even on sections of the Autobahn with only two lanes, similar to those in Vietnam, I found the experience remarkably smooth.

Initially, adapting to highway driving anywhere can feel overwhelming, as traffic flows rapidly, requiring immediate integration into the pace. Unlike at home, where one might drive either very fast or leisurely, Western highways demand adherence to a consistent, high-but-controlled speed. This applies primarily to the right lane.

In the left lane, during an unrestricted section of the Autobahn, I was driving 130 km/h when an old Opel swiftly passed me. A quick glance revealed the driver was an elderly woman, likely traveling at least 150 km/h. Immediately after overtaking, the Opel signaled right and returned to the lane, maintaining a safe distance. Occasionally, supercars and sports cars would flash by in the left lane at speeds often seen on YouTube, probably around 200, 250, or even 300 km/h.

Highway in California, US. Photo: Ba Phong

Meanwhile, on the vast highways in the US, maintaining a speed of 70 mph (approximately 113 km/h) often means never needing to brake. Unlike in Vietnam, where 120 km/h might be the target, the key difference is the consistent, steady maintenance of this speed until exiting the highway. Drivers wishing to go faster naturally move to the left lane, while those maintaining speed stay in the right. This efficient flow is simply the norm.

In Vietnam, however, driving at 120 km/h often necessitates frequent lane changes or braking to avoid slower vehicles traveling at 80 km/h.

To foster more disciplined driving, both traffic laws and driving skills require significant improvement, as most drivers in Vietnam currently lack proficiency in these areas.

Reader Ba Phong