American reacts to Things Germans do That Just Make More Sense

Thank you for watching me, a humble American, react to Things Germans do That Just Make More Sense
Original video: • THINGS GERMANS DO THAT...
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[@anoobis260]

Something I noticed the first time I was in Germany that I found weird was that there were bottles and cans next to the trash bin. Not inside. And I learned that people sometimes don't bother to take them to get their pfand back. They leave them next to the bins, so homeless people can pick these up and return them for a few coins. Pretty nice!

[@Itsme-xf7sx]

Yes that's true. We Germans know that pensions are often not sufficient and that older people therefore collect deposits. Homeless people do that too. Out of respect we don't throw the bottle in

[@leDespicable]

Not just homeless people, impoverished elderly also often collect pfand bottles to get a bit of extra money

[@Matty0311MMS]

There will often be a sticker on the trash bins, saying "Pfand gehört daneben", meaning "Pfand(bottles/cans) belongs beside (the bin)" with symbols of course, so non-german-speakers could understand, what this means.

[@kristymac3236]

What a lovely thing to do.

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Yes. And still we have the reputation to be "unfriendly". Annoying.

[@aileen8752]

"200!? some americans cant even step that far without a mcdonalds break" killed me 😂😂

[@MrKaba1985]

And it is feet not Meter BAB 100 m and Bundesstraßen 50m

[@addjem]

as you yelled "200", i immidiately knowed that you would comment this like you did, "some americans even can`t walk this distance".

[@tasminoben686]

Wer rastet, rostet Punktpunkt😅

[@xerxes02amstart47]

Yeah, honesty is oftentimes the best comedy.

[@thisismetoday]

Just to clarify: You don’t have to bring “deposit bottles” back to the exact store you bought it from, but any store that accept return, which are most. Also there’s no time limit on it, so you can just collect them for however long you want, and when you next happen to go to a store for a shop you just take them along.

[@annoyingbananana]

True. But for beer crates from different breweries across the country, some supermarkets don't take them if they don't sell that beer. What I'm saying is: DON'T return a crate (just the crate! Bottles are OK because they're identical everywhere) of North German beer in a supermarket in Southern Germany. Just don't do it. It might go through the machine because it knows the form of the crate which is almost the same everywhere, but a beer crate from Hamburg is of no use to a brewery in Bavaria. It's annoying for all of the supermarket and brewery employees and it makes them lose money. That beer crate is probably going in the supermarket's trash instead of being picked up and reused by the supplier. You get your 1,50 euro for the empty crate, but the supermarket will not. Because no local beer supplier will take that strange North German crate and hire a hauling company to send it back to Hamburg. Too much work for 1 single crate. I'm a supermarket employee and we have pallets upon pallets of beercrates we don't even sell, that people sneaked into the machine and made us lose hundreds of euros. It sucks. Bring the beer crate from your Hamburg vacation back to the store you bought it from before you go home. Simple.

[@srkares]

there are some exceptions. for example my usual supermarket doesnt take the small 1l hard-plastic bottles, because they dont sell them. they also dont take glass bottles for the same reason. ...but there is another market right across the parking lot that will take them. as will several other supermarkets i drive past on my way home.

[@karstenw3071]

@@annoyingbananana Maybe its an issue on the brewer-side. They choosed to not having "one fits all crates" an bottles. And they sell their beer everywere. So they have to buy new crates when they get lost.

[@8Flokati8]

Aber wichtig: Solltest du einen Pfandbon vom Automaten bekommen, diesen in diesem Laden nicht einlösen, kannst du diesen niergendswoanders einlösen, nur in diesem einen Laden. Der Edeka aus der Hansastraße akzeptiert also keine Pfandbons aus einem Edeka aus der Pillich Straße, als Beispiel. Falls man mal vergisst einen einzulösen.

[@user-xk6jw3wi5u]

@@srkares Actually the machines don't accept it, but the Supermarket has to take any Pfand-labeled Bottle by law. It doesn't matter if they sell them or not. When you ask the stuff at the Supermarket to declare a return-label for non-compatible bottles they will (and have to) do it. I only once had a situation where a stuff member tried to tell me that they won't take it. This was quickly resolved by another stuff member.

[@NeverStopGivingUp]

Maybe an important correction as a german: the number on the cirlced signs with a red ring around the white gives a limit you have to obey not the recommended speed. Usually the recommended speed on autobahn is 130 but there is rarely a sign for it. it is a blue rectangle with a 130 on it. if you do not see any red-circled sign on autobahn you can drive as fast as you want, as long as it is "safe".

[@mrkurdtmcbain]

StVO-Zeichen 393 👀

[@8Flokati8]

Wenn du bei der Auffahrt kein Zeichen für Geschwindigkeit hast gilt 130, Richtgeschwindigkeit. Für unbegrenzt gibt es ein eigenes Zeichen.

[@shpstr]

Nur als zusätzliche Klarstellung: Auch bei "unbegrenzt" gilt weiterhin die Richtgeschwindigkeit von 130. Und wenn an der Auffahrt nichts steht, gilt "unbegrenzt" sowie die Richtgeschwindigkeit. Richtgeschwindigkeit und "unbegrenzt" gelten auf der Autobahn immer gleichzeitig und sind nicht zwei verschiedene Dinge. Wenn auf der Landstraße die Begrenzung der Geschwindigkeit aufgehoben wird, gilt ja auch immer die allgemeine Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung von 100 km/h. (edit: außer natürlich bei baulich getrennten Fahrbahnen bzw. mehreren Spuren in jeder Richtung, denn dort gilt ja dann auch wieder die Richtgeschwindigkeit von 130)

[@RegalCobra097]

Für manche ist das Schild auch nur eine generelle Empfehlung.😶

[@koenigkorczak]

I'm amazed at how fast Ryan understood the connection between Pfand and homeless people

[@hanswurst-ej3qj]

becuase its not uncommon in the states either. some states have deposist on beercans and the likes. so homeless people in california for example ( a state with deposits for cans) do that for a living. and u can see it in public media too, in movies and whatnot :)

[@Rey-vm9it]

true

[@koenigkorczak]

@@hanswurst-ej3qj huh, didn't know that! though it seemed to be a fairly new concept to Ryan and I think he made the connection on his own

[@Dubman1287]

@@koenigkorczak very well said, sir! Kinda funny also, that it seemed to be the first thing he thought about :D:D

[@KingRobar2]

On the Pfand thing: There is actually a general, mostly unspoken, rule in German cities called "Pfand gehört daneben." (Put the Pfand next to the trash bin, not in it.). That way people who don't want to bother bringing back the Pfand don't throw it away, but leave it next to trash bins where homeless people or others who have to depend on collecting Pfand for their livelihood can collect it without having to go through the garbage

[@user-sm3xq5ob5d]

Isn't that really sad that we have homeless that are in need to collect those bottles? The first time I visited the USA (1980!) I watched some homeless diving into a large garbage container (the ones with the sliding lid). And they were taking out soda cans to recycle them somewhere. Dumbster divers. I was shocked. Today, we have the same situation here. I regularly watch homeless people with a torch looking into containers at the railway station to get some bottles out. Or entering the train riding it between the last few stations inside the big city (Hamburg Main Station to Hamburg Altona) to search the trash bins for "collectables". It is so sad! Thank you Gerhard!

[@Olfan]

Another sad thing is that you keep seeing people in fine suits who obviously do not depend on collecting deposits just pocketing those bottles. They won't dirty their cuffs on the bins, though, so if you really want to donate your deposit to a person in actual need and you can't find one and give it to them directly, do put it into the bin. Also, call out suits stealing these donations - public shaming may yet change their (no, not hearts) behaviour.

[@Renb3771]

Another great thing, in the city I live nearby (lüneburg near Hamburg) we have bottle holders near trashbins for the unspoken "Pfand gehört daneben" Ah well.. and it's not really inconvenient we have return atomats at the entrance of every store, and you go there anyway.. when you bring them back every time or almost every time you go to the store, you don't have to carry much either

[@sepphero9639]

​@@Olfanyou are aware that some people need the money without looking that part? Like elderly people, students and such? Also, in some cases it might look that way without being that way. For example, i worked part time as cleaner in my student dorm and it was my job to get rid of the leftover bottles from for example parties, if the host left them behind. Before we talk about elitism for who these bottles belong we could just finally really try to solve the homeless crisis instead

[@sepphero9639]

​​@@user-sm3xq5ob5dyes and no, you'd actually be surprised how much money you can make with Pfand. It sounds like scraping pennies but at good spots in summer with the right approach easily 40€+ per hour

[@cybershadow81]

5:58 The current gen Toyota Corolla only has 750 kg towing capacity with trailer brakes and 450 kg without. With the last gen Corolla you get 1,300 kg with trailer brakes, which is enough for a small camper. European cars tend to have higher towing capacities than Japanese cars though, because they're designed with towing in mind. A VW Golf has up to 2 metric tons of towing capacity, which is enough for a large European caper or a horse trailer for two horses.

[@philippk819]

The triangle and the vest are mandatory in most of Europe. In Cyprus you even need to bring two triangles. In Germany you additionally need a warning light if your vehicle or a combibation of a vehicle and a trailer weighs more than 3,5 tons.

[@SilkeJuppenlatz]

Yes, same in France. And you also have to have at least €20 on you, in case you run out of petrol!

[@MrPuky94]

The additional Warning light is mandatory for vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of more than 3.5 tons. The law doesn't say anything about vehicle combinations. 😉

[@Gondalf]

@@SilkeJuppenlatz In Germany you have to pay at least 70€ an get one Point on your driver License...

[@Pseudomonasa]

Don't forget the mandatory First Aid Kit! Always check if it's still sterile otherwise It doesn't count in a traffic control. These are really expensive. If you buy the necessities in a pharmacy you would save 15-20€

[@Hirotoro4692]

just to clarify to anyone here, it should be obvious but it might not be: Some countries in Europe have this very strange habit of reversing decimal points and commas. So yes that would be 3.5 tonnes.

[@2kReels]

The Monologue around 13:00 is a good example why I like this channel so much. The way Ryan always comes damn close to the actual facts in Germany by musing is always impressive. Yes...we have homeless people (though far less than the US) and yes...they collect the deposit of found bottles. It goes even so far, that; If you don't want to return your bottle....you don't throw it IN the garbage can, but place it BESIDES; so another person can collect the bottle and get the deposit.

[@Reoddadai]

Its not just homeless people who collect bottles. If I see one container and I'm on my way to shop my groceries I'll take it with me. The thing is, you can claim your deposit nearly everywhere. Supermarkets, bakery's, Kiosk... the rule here goes like this: If they sell (for example) 0.5 l bottles of coke the must accept your empty soda bottles. But here It's common courtesy that you not bother little shops with your salvaged hauls of empty bottles. For this you should go to the bigger supermarkets. For these Plastic bottles it's 0.25 (Euro)cents, other containers like the plain old beer bottle it's 0.08 cents, beer bottles with clip closure 0.15 cents.

[@aoeuable]

He asked whether it's legal and the answer is: It depends. By law any trash deposited with the municipal trash monopoly is property of the municipality, but then many municipalities allow taking away that trash if you don't leave a mess and don't do it commercially. And even if you break the law like that most cases would be thrown out by state attorneys as the values involved are negligible -- a wood cupboard on the sidewalk put there for the municipality to pick up is officially worth the same as its energetic value, that is, it's firewood, no matter how intricately carved or whatever. IIRC they're not allowed to return deposit bottles so the same principle applies there. Other illegal trash-related things include disposing of your chocolate bar wrapper or such in a trash bin that's been put out to collection: That's subreption of trash disposal services. Unless you dispose of whole trash bags like that (because e.g. you don't want to pay trash fees but hate your neighbour) nobody cares.

[@ibidaxiuero]

Thats one of the most impressive things about Germany. People in parks put their glass and plastic bottles on the side of garbage cans, not in them, so homeless or poor people can grab them and return them for pfand.

[@muiggmuigg]

yes, and for me, it is a satisfying moment, when I get 1 or more Euros-coupon out of the bottle machine :-) And it is not unusual to see that people bring back more than 30 bottles at once. (whichs annoys me regularly because I have to wait until the gave away all these bottles....sigh) You can bring it back to any store. And how would you recycle plastic or aluminium at your own house?...

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

He's smart. If he read the comments more he would learn the whole thing/system within the blink of an eye.. ❤ Also I like how he can laugh about himself. 😄

[@PDVism]

FYI, the danger triangle and safety vest is not just Germany but is a law in lots of countries and has been for ages. Why am I not surprised that the USA don't do that.

[@alexia2189]

Basically the whole Europe

[@robertheinrich2994]

some countries (I think slovenia at least) demand a second triangle if you are going with a caravan. which makes sense, you could have an accident and need to leave your caravan over there while your car gets towed or whatever.

[@yadiracamacho499]

I'm in Venezuela and the emergency triangle is normal, so not just Europe.

[@alexia2189]

@@robertheinrich2994 even better. Yeah, safety on the road is the most important

[@alexia2189]

@@yadiracamacho499 I haven't traveled in South America so I didn't want to speak on behalf of other countries

[@stefans.226]

Gas stations sell lots of things, because they have an exception from general shop closing hours laws (officially they are only allowed to sell things you need while on the road, but that's a pretty vague restriction). We rarely have 24/7 stores, so the gas stations fill that gap.

[@sebastianmuller1210]

When Mc Donalds charged for ketchup and majo they decliend heavily for a few years (3 or 4 years). That was something like ten years ago. They rehired the former german CEO to get McDonalds back on track and the first thing he did, was to add one free ketchup or majo to each menu. It helped massively. The ketchup charge pissed people off so immensely, we nearly got healthy eaters.

[@falcolebt-feinstewienerstr8724]

In Austria you must pay every fkng ketchup to freedom fries 😀

[@sebastianmuller1210]

@@falcolebt-feinstewienerstr8724 at least you get ketchup. In france you can order it all day long but won't get any. 😉

[@chrisubels]

I am from the Netherlands and here, we just fill our shoppingbag with the bottles at home, go to the supermarket, return the bottles, and use that bag for our groceries. Very CONVENIENT lol, no trouble at all haha

[@snipersougo13]

You where supposed to say very easy barely an inconvenience

[@chrisubels]

@@snipersougo13 euh... Why?

[@snipersougo13]

@@chrisubels it's a running gag from a Canadian KZbinr called Ryan George

[@bluchschnibel7806]

It was convenient until they made the aluminium cans returnable. I'm used to drink out of cans for a long time, just crush them, save them up an return them to a recycling company. Then got payed per KG for the metals... Now I have to return too many cans one by one into the machine. Takes me a lot of time and impatient behavior of the person next to me in line. (edit: Now the price I pay for the cans to return is higher than the actual metal value. 100 cans x 15 cents vs. 90 cent a Kilo).

[@MindJunkPictures]

same here

[@Thunderwingisatakenalias]

About the Pfand: It's actually not inconvenient. We don't get handed a new single use plastic bag every time we go shopping. We use reusable bags or baskets. Instead of taking empty bags to the grocery store, we just put the plastic bottles we used since the last time we went shopping in the bags. The Pfand machines are at the front of the supermarket most of the time, so I just return them when I enter. The Pfand machine then gives you a small paper with your Pfand on it, and at the checkout you get money for the paper, so it's treated like an item at the store with a negative price.

[@karstenbursak8083]

Some clarification: The deposit system for bottles exists for decades Initially implemented NOT by the german government but the beverage industries themselves, aimed at glass bottles (Milk, Wine, Beer, Spring water), it was intended so the glass bottles are returned to the the beverage producers the get washed out and refilled and reused. A glass bottle can be refilled up to 50 times before it needs to be replaced. I remember many US beverage companies did the same up until the early to mid 70s. In 2002 the german government extended this system to plastic bottles and cans, originally to battle the increasing amount of plastic bottles, to force the producers back to refillable glass bottles. But sadly it did not work as intended, but they kept it in place to battle the volume of trash.

[@sleepnt992]

And there are different kinds of plastic. The 25ct-bottles and cans are recycled in another way than the regular plastic.

[@MarcHumer]

The signs reads: "You are leaving Wilster" (so you can speed up from 50 to 100km/h - and in 6km the next village called Schotten will "begin". City signs always mean automatically that the max. speed allowed is confined to 50km/h

[@jowilson3619]

13:05 Yes there are homeless people in Germany and its actually quite interesting that its not just homeless people collecting bottles. Even "normal" living people sometimes collect those bottles especially when there are bigger events around (f.e. football games, festivals, street events), because obviously drunk people don't really care about Pfand. So some of them make like 200€ or more a day by bringing collected bottles in huge amounts back into the supermarket.

[@MrMcRobsen]

absolutely when i am on music festivals, i always ask people around me for free bottle, cans and stuff, its a free ticket!

[@derzeraphin4208]

But not only homeless people. Don't forget our pensioniers. It's a sad story about Germany.

[@jowilson3619]

@@derzeraphin4208 Yeah like I said "not just homeless", you are right for sure, there are a lot of pensioners that do collect those bottles to add some money to their budget

[@heinzbeiz1776]

I also saw stickers on trash cans in my area quoting: "Pfandflaschen gehören neben den Abfalleimer" ("Deposit bottles belong next to the trash can"), implying to not make it unnecessarily hard on people who collect "Pfandflaschen" to search in the trash cans, but to just pick them up by the side. Nice move in my opinion!

[@derzeraphin4208]

@@heinzbeiz1776 Some brands print that sticker on their bottles. Like Fritz Cola or Fritz Limo.

[@Manuelaorginal]

About the inconvenience you mentioned about bringing back the bottles: It’s a universal system in Germany. You can bring back the bottles of one grocery store to any other grocery store. It doesn’t need to be the same chain. So since you buy groceries weekly anyway you just bring your bottles with you and get your Pfand back.

[@stanislavbandur7355]

Until you do not want to get pfund for glass bottles specificly sold in particular chain (some beer bottles from Lidl are not accepted in Aldi store)

[@Ruheschrei]

​@@stanislavbandur7355 some bottles and cans (mostly those that are imported) just don't have Pfand. they are also sold without Pfand. but don't worry, for Glas bottles without Pfand there are containers to recycle them. 👍🏻

[@Teddini]

@@Ruheschrei That depends, its usually the imported glass bottles (or weird tetra pack like containers). Imported cans or plastic bottles will most likely have a printed label with a pfand logo. Ive seen a lot of glass bottles with pfand logo on it. The one for 25cents it is. Those you maybe wont be able to return at all stores but the ones that accept glass bottles (so Lidl, Aldi probably wont accept it but rewe or edeka will)

[@Ruheschrei]

@@Teddini I was simply saying that not all bottles and cans have Pfand and gave one of many reasons for it. you see my Döner shop sells imported soda cans and those don't have Pfand.

[@Teddini]

Yes, but what they do is illegal. So if they would act according to laws, it wouldnt be cans without labels, as you can see with imported cans sold in stores. Listing an example that criminally avoids the pfand-solution is the same as if you would say "if you buy a can at an airport in another country and then fly to germany, you will not be able to return that can for pfand". Obviously, because that can never was ment to be used in the system. Legally imported cans ALWAYS have pfand labels on stickers added to the can. @@Ruheschrei

[@Herzschreiber]

Concerning the gas: Yes, in Germany you start pumping right away and after you finished you go inside, tell them "I was at number 5" and then you pay either cash or with a debit card. (Remember that CREDIT cards are not very common in Germany. People pay cash or with debit cards, which means the money is booked away from your normal bank account instead of a credit company. Whe hate to get into depts!) Now you probably wonder why gas is not stolen .... well - there are security cams everywhere at the gas station, so the plate of your car can be read and you will be found quickly by the police when you drive away without paying the bill. The employees at the cashier will notice a theft immediately. Moreover most of the gas stations have a shopping area inside so they want you to get inside and maybe grab a snack or some drinks or a gift for your kids or spouse when paying the gas bill. :)

[@yournemesis192]

I always pay with my credit card using Apple Pay. It’s a habit that I picked up in North America and I think it’s just way more convenient that way. Credit cards come with rewards points and extra benefits while most debit cards do not. You can use a credit card offline (on a plane/train) but debit cards only work when the terminal is connected to the internet. You don’t need a PIN code, even for large purchases, and payments rarely get declined

[@thechurchofsupersampling]

Debit cards definitely work on planes, almost like modern planes have internet, maybe only for first class and their own use though

[@Herzschreiber]

@@yournemesis192 the pros and cons of credit cards may vary depending on what your financial situation is. If you don't want to be in depts it might be a pro to use a debit card, but if you don't have to care about "20 bucks more or less" you may prefer the use of a credit card. I am glad we have the freedom to chose here.

[@dunderbaer2430]

@@yournemesis192 >You don’t need a PIN code, even for large purchases that honestly sounds like another reason for me not to use credit cards, but to each their own ig

[@paulgreen758]

@@Herzschreiber UK here we operate the same way, I find it strange that you have to pay before you fill up in America, it's not how. a 1st world country should be

[@kylian1de596]

At minute 21 the german gas pump is for diesel only , one tap is for trucks (thicker, faster) and the other tap is for cars. Gasolin might be on the other side of that pump station servicing E10 and E5 gasolin (10% / 5% alcohol addon). Some companies have up do 2 additional gas types with different addons. So approching a gas pump you have to check which type is served at which pump by signs above the pump. Most pumps don't have card readers, you just stop at the pump, take the tap and fill your car, then go to the employee to pay. Some station will give you credits so you will pay less than it is on the pump display. If you drive off without paying, the next police car might stop you and fine you for stealing, otherwise you will get a letter from law inforcement because every car license is unique and police can find out within seconds who is the owner and living address. Every gas station I know has cigarettes and newspapers, most have beverages, snacks, magazines, sweets and even alcohols. Some stations have a complete small store included.

[@marco3584]

Danke 😂 dachte oh fuck, wie soll ich dem klar machen das das, aufgrund des adblue links, ne Lkw tanksäule ist, und an anderen Säulen /Pumpe bis zu 4erlei Kraftstoffe gibt, hast mir das übersetzten erspart 🗿 Thanks 😂 thought oh fuck, how am I supposed to explain that, because of the adblue on the left, this is a truck fuel pump, and there are up to 4 different types of fuel at other pumps/pumps, you saved me having to translate it 🗿

[@bebex599]

Maybe you have only 20 € left???!

[@bebex599]

And maybe there's no money left on your card???!

[@shpstr]

​@bebex599 Then you should (in case of 20€ left) stop pumping gas before the value on the pump reaches 20€. And if you have no money at all, you probably shouldn't go pumping gas. Either way, if someone has so little control over their life and money/expenses that they run out of money at the gas station because they don't know how much money is left in their account they should reconsider their lifestyle and their mode of transportation.

[@Halimat2.0]

​@@bebex599 you should check if you still have money on your card before pumping gas and the pumping station displays the price and volume of your current fill so you can easily track the money

[@jochenreichl796]

@ryan Wass: Depending on the model, the Corolla can tow up to 1300 kg (about 2600 pounds). That's enough for a 3-4 person caravan.

[@SiqueScarface]

Your Corolla definitely could tow those things. In Germany, Corollas can. It's more the perception that they could not. But if you just look at the specs of the car, you see that there is not much difference to a truck. According to the German spec sheet, the 1.2litre 85 kW Corolla is allowed to tow up to 3000 pounds braked and 1000 pounds unbraked trailers.

[@rolandscherer1574]

That's right. But since some years, you need a special driver's license, at least in Germany. Cars with trailers behave differently, even heavy trucks, and you need to be aware of this.

[@supporter666]

​@@rolandscherer1574that is not correct

[@mfg_overkillok1820]

With the normal B class drivers license I can tow our camper. Just barely tho😅

[@rolandscherer1574]

@@supporter666 Fahrzeugkombination: Mit dem Führerschein der Klasse BE darf ein Fahrzeug der Klasse B (Pkw) mit einem Anhänger geführt werden, wobei der Anhänger eine zulässige Gesamtmasse über 750 Kilogramm haben darf. Most campers are above 750 kg.

[@annehoog]

he has an automatic though that might change things since it takes a pretty good automatic transmission to handle towing, just like in a manual you go through the gears differently when towing. Also he might have an insurance issue since a lot of manufacturers don't have their cars certified for towing even though technically the car could do it (and in Europe is certified)

[@tumble3d817]

taking bottles back to the store isn’t inconvenient at all, you can just bing them along when you go grocery shopping and then use the money you get back from them for your groceries

[@lamaglama6231]

Except for the ones were the machine collecting the bottles has to recalibrate after like five bottles or cans

[@jona21sep]

I disagree, it is pretty inconvenient. Especially if you don’t have a car!

[@LythaWausW]

I beg to differ. I find it totally inconvenient; it's a chore that shouldn't have to exist. It's not as simple as you put it - you have to have a space in your home dedicated to storing all the empties (and you cannot just crush them to save space), you have to make room in your car for them, and spend a certain amount of time fighting with the machine. I would trust that Germans are responsible enough to recycle bottles at home in a separate bin but I guess there will always be lazy people who throw them out the window.

[@Faeyeful]

We use a Laundry Bag (sometimes also basket) to just store the Pfand until we go back to the store, it sits right next to our trash bins, so no real hustle there. Grabbing it, putting it on the backseat and feeding the machine when entering the store is no big deal 99% of the times (our stores in the small village where I am from normally have 2 machines even so no wait / danger of both being broken/full). Upside is you automatically bring a bag/basket for shopping this way without forgetting it too! :D Yesterday we had 3 baskets of Pfand and got 20.50€ back, which was all the shopping we did that day for 2 nice meals and some candy, felt great. :)

[@Ace-Of-Spades---]

​@@LythaWausW I have a large shopping bag hanging on a hook on the wall in the kitchen. I throw empty bottles in there, and when the bag is full, I take it with me to the grocery store. What's awkward about that? It doesn't matter if I go shopping with a full bag or an empty one. Plastic bottles weigh almost nothing And if someone threw a bottle out of the car, others would pick it up - after all, it's money.

[@follower4219]

Schoolsystem is very permeable. You can add Gymnasium on top of Realschulabschluss (secondary school diploma) in multiple ways. That is pretty cool when it clicks later for you intellectually than for your classmates.

[@Entr4n3r]

Its a common thing in germany to put your empty bottles next to the trash because homless people will come and pick them up to get money

[@ressistantxkalli2023]

I'm starting to get the feeling that Ryan is slowly transforming more and more into a German. So much concentrated understanding of German behavior and German rules and more and more aversion to the customs of his fellow countrymen. He makes me a little prouder with every video.

[@haggihug3162]

Thats true. But the imagination to go to a pump station, pump your gas and going inside afterwards to pay seems yet a compleatly strage idea to him. @Ryan: Think about Germans paying with MONEY, and not by card … 🥳😝 In fact german pump machines normally have no card slots at all.

[@christianstorms3950]

Yeah like 8 years ago literally no one in Germany even bothered owning a Debit or Credit card. Once I was stranded with my empty motobike in Belgium at a Sunday evening in front of one of those credit card pumps with no soul around and thank God I just had gotten my Visacard like 2 months prior.

[@theredjar495]

​@@christianstorms3950i don't even use a creditcard at all. I still pay in cache.

[@KicKandRoll666]

be carefull with the new account telling you that you won, that also told me i won, too. Check carefully before giving any personal info

[@ressistantxkalli2023]

@@KicKandRoll666 thanks for answer. I know it’s scam. Some crypto Bro Bullshit

[@L1nus61]

Fun fact regarding the triangle: A few years ago there has been a case where a driver had an accident but he was not carrying the mandatory warning triangle. So he looked in his trunk and found a few red peppers. He placed the red peppers on the road to warn other drivers. The police thought this was such a creative way that he didn't have to pay the (i think like 20€) fine for not carrying the triangle

[@Xanthopteryx]

Here in Sweden the yearly inspection checks the triangle and you will fail inspection if you do not carry one.

[@L1nus61]

@@Xanthopteryx I think this is a really good idea. In germany the police sometimes checks it when you are at a general traffic control. But most drivers probably won't ever be checked

[@hinekde]

We have that in Germany, too. Every 2 years you have get a technical check of your car to continue using it. When they check, they also check for a warning triangle and for the vests and for a first aid kit @@Xanthopteryx

[@BPonTour]

Also, motorcyclists don’t usually carry the triangle with them but if they stop to help I have seen them using a helmet and a spare west.

[@fairlyn]

​@@Xanthopteryx in Germany they do that too (at the biyearly TÜV inspection), but it's not enforced that well. Last time the guy couldn't find my Warnweste, and asked me where it was, I told him but he didn't check again, so I simply could have lied. Also I believe you don't fail the inspection because of missing triangle or Warnweste, they just tell you to get it

[@JustMe-ql9li]

As a german this is very interesting to watch especially the part about school, the commentary was dead on about the downsides of our school system with pretty much 100% of the "theories". So it seems like its logical why this wont work fr but we still have to go through it to this day lol

[@EngineScypex]

Not really. I mean sure, it's inconvenient if someone has to go to another school then their buddies. But it's far worse if said someone struggles because school is to hard or is annoyed because it's too easy. And as you should know, just because you attend the gymnasium doesn't mean you need to go to highschool and university after that. Same if it took longer to "get good" - you can upgrade if you are good enough or attend a higher school after your 10th year. Also german.

[@creit92]

Another thing about the schoolsystem in germany is, that there is a rule, that no matter where you started, you can still get a certificate that says you can go to university. Even when you go to "Hauptschule" after elementary school, you are still able to get a qualification for university. Even if you left school without any qualification, there is still the possibility to do an "Ausbildung" which is a like a training for mechanics and other crafts (the "Ausbildungssystem" in germany would be an interesting topic for a video. After that you can get do the qualification "Meister", which you need for certain crafts to work as self-employed, or open an own company. Which this qualification you are also allowed to go to university and study anything else.

[@blablubb4553]

Regarding the problem of inconvenience: Every household in Germany basically has a large shopping bag or basket they use for storage of used plastic bottles and soda cans that are returnable. Some even go so far as to store them in the trunk of their car (I know I do), so that whenever they visit the store next time, they will have A: all their "Pfand" with them and B: already have a large shopping bag ready for groceries, so they don't have to buy a new one from the store or even use a paper bag and thus create additional waste.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

yeah, I usually use my backpack and one additional bag.

[@panzervpl9406]

Yeah I don't get people complaining about plastic bag ban and how fragile paper bags are, just bring your own bag damn it, you can get a good durable bag for a few euro that will last literally years and is waterproof

[@KardoganLR]

@@panzervpl9406 I know, I use them, too. But I know many people who are too lazy to carry that bag with them for the case they might need it. 🙄

[@D4BASCHT]

I usually have two bags in my backpack, so I can do some small grocery shopping when I miss a bus/train because of delays and there is a supermarket around. I also always carry small wooden throw-away fork for the rare cases when I can’t find something to eat, because that allows me to eat oven-ready meal from supermarkets that can’t be eaten with just hands. Some organizations give out textile bags as freebies with their name and logo printed on it, you sometimes don’t even have to buy them. You could even sew one on your own or patch up a broken bought one. My wooden forks are from restaurants that hand(ed) them out as throw-away cutlery, but you can wash and re-use them. In our car we mostly have foldable hard-plastic shopping baskets in the trunk. They can contain more than than a bag and you can just place them in a shopping cart or at least simplify unloading at home. They don’t take much space and are stackable when folded.

[@hypatian9093]

@@D4BASCHT Germans love their Klappkiste! (is there an English term for that?)

[@matthiastilly5480]

Regarding homeless people and plastic bottles: Yes, this is a thing..... It's called "Flaschensammeln" (collecting bottles) - and it reached quite a status of a sign of failed social politics that also some retired people need to collect bottles to pay rent. On the other hand if you walk around a city, have some drink with you, you give some homeless guy your bottle and they will be thankful (typical plastic bottle is 25 cent) - also If you don't want to carry around your empty bottles, you don't throw them in the trash, but put them on top or on the ground in front of the trashcan, so homless people can take it without the humiliation of digging through the trash

[@juilescieg]

just pushing that comment. important thing.

[@jochenwagner2782]

I am German, living in Spain. I would like to have Pfand here, that the people start to clean the trash along the roads. It's so dirty because no Pfand! I sometimes collect 20 bottles out of the sea while doing a five hour trip in my Kayak. In Germany, somebody would actively search for bottes and cans, so that much less end up in the sea.

[@dermorzi_archiv]

There is one thing that most people overlook in the picture of the German gas pump. This is a diesel pump for cars and trucks, so it needs more space and that's why they are separated from the pumps where only cars stop. Our gas stations in Germany also usually have multiple pumps, so there is gasoline at other pumps as well, if there is only one pump, you have gas and diesel at that one.

[@danielmuller2701]

yeah, it was a bad example picture. Oftentimes I wish for him to do a collab with a German just so that his assumptions and theories can get fact checked/confirmed and some of the assertions in videos can be explained by a native. Just like the picture with the "speed limit" on the Autobahn - it should have been a blue Richtgeschwindigkeits-Sign

[@Tennouseijin]

And then you also have LPG. I'm not sure if it's identical in Germany, but in Poland you usually see one of three things: - An LPG pump on the side of the station - One of the pumps on the station might be an LPG pump - Or sometimes you see LPG-only stations, run as a micro business that only deals in LPG. One factor is fire/explosion safety regulations that are different for LPG than they are for gasoline, so it is easier to follow the regulations if LPG is stored separately. I'm not sure how many LPG cars are in USA, but a quick search suggests they are less popular and few stations offer LPG? It seems it's more popular in Canada.

[@X25_Networking]

21:07 It is noft a good example: Other Stations have more then 6 Pumps in a row

[@kubo5035]

its an truck pump or german trucks ... not for normal cars

[@T0MT0Mmmmy]

I think the towing thing is related to how trailers are build in USA vs. Germany. In Germany (if they aren't really really small) they need by law a "Auflaufbremse" (overrun brake), a brake on the trailer that the trailer can brake itselfs when the towing bar is compressed because the car reduces speed. So smaller cars are allowed to tow trailers. In the USA no overrun brake is recommended in trailers, so by law the towing car must be bigger because it must create the breaking force to stop the trailer.

[@paeppi]

Wouldn't it still be much much cheaper to retrofit an Auflaufbremse into your trailer instead of getting a gas guzzling truck for that trailer?

[@DanWinterborn]

​@@paeppi Remember, in the US gas is cheaper than in Germany .

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

​@@paeppinot in the us.

[@dbclass4075]

@@DanWinterborn Even so, a recurring expense can add up, especially if the driven distance is quite long.

[@lurchi55]

⁠@@trazyntheinfinite9895Especially in the US. Gas here is almost half the price in some places compared to German gas. Even in California it’s cheaper. Germany doesn’t have any oil source so they have to import it. Gallon of gas in Germany is almost $7 on average

[@astor_io857]

The Pfand-System really isn´t as inconvenient as it may first seem. You don´t run back to the store for every single bottle that you use, instead you just put them in a big bag and bring them with you to the store when you´re going grocery shopping the next time. The grocery stores that sell Pfand-bottles are required to have those Pfand-devices right at the store, so you don´t have to go to a separate location just to reclaim your Pfand. There really is no reason not to implement such a system except "MUH freedom". And it´s not like you´re forced to bring the bottles back, you just have to pay an extra if you, for whatever reason, decide not to.

[@windhelmguard5295]

the pfand system is shit though. when you get to the store there is always a line on the one machine they usually have, the machine is always full when it's your turn, then you have to ring the stupid bell and wait for an employee to fix it. there is always at least one bottle or beer crate in your inventory that any given store doesn't take. better hope the stupid wrap is still on your plastic bottles and they're not squished too much because god forbid someone tries to return a bottle they purchased before the pfand system was implemented. oh your can has a dent? well fuck you then. not to mention that it hurts small businesses, since the re-usable bottles and crates never end up back where they came from, they go to large breweries where they just take the bottles and shred the crates (they are supposed to send competition crates to their proper owners, but they only do that for other large breweries) so small private breweries have to purchase new bottles and get new crates made, which is an immense cost factor.

[@donbohnez6420]

bullshit, never had problems with that. There are some machines, which do not collect some type of bottles like the hard-platic ones. But all in all its a good system and quite easy to use it. @@windhelmguard5295

[@nightcorelore5648]

The system just makes sense, because you also are inclined to reuse bags (in which you carry your empty bottles to the store)

[@astor_io857]

Honestly sounds like your store is just shit. Even my local Aldi has multiple Pfand collection devices, and none of them being available is a really rare occurrence. When in doubt, I bring my bottles with me the next time I go to Kaufland, I have never seen them not take one of my bottles.

[@73bbl38]

It is even more inconvenient as it seems... instead of crushing it and simply throwing it in the recycling bin (yellow bin) you have to keep it intact, transport it back to the store and put it into the machine one by one... completely illogical.

[@alikig.9776]

You recycle the bottles by bringing them to a station usually located at any supermarket. So you would go anyway to buy fresh food there, so you collect your Pfand at home, and bring it back before you go food shopping, and usually the amount you get back from your „Pfand“ is getting off the amount you pay at the supermarket. However you don’t need to buy something to get your „Pfand“-money back.

[@SotGravarg]

The sad part is, not only homeless people but also retired people go search for Pfand bottles to get some money cuz the state is so fucked up, politicans with no school degree, never had a job neither got elected make 14k per month and get at 30 a safe pension from the state and people who worked their asses off in their life time have to go out with 70yo or older and collect Pfand bottles to survive.

[@tornero5829]

Is Ryan finally retaining some German now? 😅 Well done on the pronunciation of "Pfand" and "Gymnasium"! I was actually impressed

[@AlexandraVioletta]

He couldn't resist anymore. Soon he will be germanized like Liam (Carps) 😂

[@reneberthold334]

xD das ist mir auch aufgefallen und ich hatte diesen WTF Moment xD einfach nur klasse.

[@saburo6042]

Liam James Bray And Ryan ftw Auch wenn ich nicht der größte deutsch befürworter bin.

[@loschwahn723]

GYM NASI OOMMMMM - the preferred school for Paralympics in thin'king trust me - about reality they only something when their brain squished on the flexiband in rush hour just like greta tunar

[@sebastianc9716]

What I didn't see any other comment mention about our Pfand-System: You don't have to bring the bottles to the store you bought them from. Every store you can buy the Pfand-Bottles have to take back any Pfand-Bottles bought from anywhere as long as they sell the type of bottle. The Pfand-deposit you made in one store goes into the Pfand-System and when you bring that bottle to another shop that shop gets the Pfand it gave you for bringing a Pfand-Bottle out from the Pfand-System so it's a Net-Zero for the shops involved.

[@penaarja]

Finland also cans, not just plastic

[@follower4219]

You know, Germans are different! We love 💶 Cash!!! And we trust people to pay after pumping gas (of what we have three different kinds). But we don't trust them enough not to use survaillance 😅

[@jan4004]

Your Toyota Corolla has a towing weight, depending on the version, of between 750 and 1000 kilograms. In Germany, the maximum speed you can drive with a trailer on the motorway is 100 kilometers per hour. In the Netherlands, the maximum speed on the motorway is 90 kilometres per hour.

[@prnzssLuna]

The school system is really functional. There's very good upwards mobility between the categories. I was a Realschule kid, almost got bumped down to Hauptschule because I was really bad at school (family problems at home, etc, so I sucked. Even had to redo a year cuz I was too bad to move up a year). Later, I got better. I did vocational school, and afterwards decided I wanted to go to universtiy. So I did "Berufsoberschule" which gives you the same graduation as someone from the Gymnasium would've had, and it allows you to go to Uni. You're not stuck in your respective category, but can move up freely later on in life with little to no obstacles. For free too, of course! Now I'm doing my bachelors at a University like anyone else would after attending Gymnasium. I'm just a bit older

[@XyXLP]

About school: I see that in all videos that people talk about the three types of schools, but as some people already mentioned you can change the schools and also if you stay in Hauptschule, you can make an additional year and have the same qualifications as someone who did Realschule. Also, after that you can make your 3 years to get at the same level as someone who did Gymnasium from the beginning. Myself also finished Realschule and continued with my 3 years, so I could study, and I also have now my Bachelor of Science. So your career path is totally flexible and you can do what every you want. And so you not need any more time for it Hauptschule ends after 9 years, Realschule after 10 and Gymnasium traditionally after 13 year. So if you are in Hauptschule and make 4 more years than you can also study and have the same qualification as someone who did Gymnasium from the start.

[@RobinSeiffert]

that all is not entirely true...we have 16 different school systems and even systems without "Hauptschule" at all...and others with 10years Hauptschule or just nine and an additional year gives you a "Qualifizierten Hauptschulabschluss" but not "Mittlere Reife" as you say. Same with Gymnasium, some have 12 classes, some federal states 13, some both...it is more complicated as you say here!

[@RobinSeiffert]

so from Hauptschule to Abitur besides you need the skills you need at least 5 more years! 2 more years to get "Mittlere Reife" and then 3 years for Abitur. And you should mention that the skills you need are much much different from Hauptschule to Gymnasium. so just, to go further to school wont bring you the degree as you say here.

[@Olfan]

Well of course not - a) things are never as simple as they seem in a short paragraph, and b) no school system in the world will grant you a higher degree if you don't qualify for it. XyXLP's point is that you can work yourself up the ladder as far as you like or are able. It may not work exactly the same in every state, but who needs that level of detail. (The term "Mittlere Reife" you're using isn't even used in the majority of states anymore, so you're both right/wrong depending on where you sit. ;) If you had a slow start but then consistently show potential your parents will be advised to switch schools early on, there's no need to first finish one path and then do a follow-up. A more realistic picture is that if you've been sorted into Hauptschule you'll likely need a few extra years to get to Abitur level, but if you're willing (and able) to put in that time and effort you absolutely can.

[@MrKaba1985]

​@@RobinSeiffertand in Bavaria 12 years Gymnasium isn't taken in an Universität as 1 year is missing. In Eastern Germany we even make Jokes about it as the 13. Year is for a Theater year needed for the kids.

[@DanWinterborn]

And don't forget Abendschule for people already working a full job. There you can get your qualifications even after your school carrier. Hart work? Absolutely. You get the chance, if you are willing and able to work for it.

[@susannedahase149]

With Pfand you do it like this: you buy plastic bottles (or glass bottles) and when you go to shop for drinks you take all of your empty bottles to the store and give them back. You put them into a recycling machine that reads the barcodes and sum up all the Pfand that needs to be returned to you. This machine prints out a receipt wich you give to the cashier when paying your new bottles. At gas stations in Germany you can either use your debitcard at the gas pump OR you pay after you pumped. It's a thing of trust, yes. but with video cameras your car's lisence plate is captured and the police will be informed. So, you pump your gas and then you go into the store and pay your gas cash or per card.

[@follower4219]

Regarding speedlimits we have some standards: 30 km/h in some living areas 50 km/h in towns 100 km/h out of towns Recommended 130 km/h on highways While everything can be modified by a sign that simply loses its effect at the next crossroads. And most people do not speed on Highways that much. To the annoying of many swiss that like to drive on our roads, as fast as it goes... 😉

[@DieAuswandererDoku]

What is uncomfortable about the system? When your bottles are empty you just go shopping again. Then you're in the store anyway. So you take the empty bottles with you and get your deposit back. It's that simple.

[@jayandreas1131]

To be fair, Americans aren't the smartest bunch. Watching Post10's KZbin channel when Americans replace a culvert in a rural area they just leave the old rotten one on the side of the road where they put in the new one.

[@raku2122]

I compleatly agree and it is not the same as the normal recycling bin. because there are only four parts (lable, cap with the ring and the bottle itself) and the clear part always is PET sorting the materials reliably is possible. that's why we have the "made from 100% recycled PET" bottles now. that would not be possible as part of the big yellow bin "recycling" system

[@alsatian1266]

I was in countries with an annoying type of recycling, since you needed to go to a recycling centre for it. Every big town had one (Australia), but just one, so happy driving through the whole town for it.... if you are lucky enough living in one of the Towns =D Else you can take big bags with you on a Holiday to a big town, or maybe your community organizes something or .... It was quiet aweful. And me, as a proper Pfand-German, was looked at very confusing with my 5 bottles .... I didnt drink much stuff from Bottles =/

[@favoritevids8869]

9:08 for the speed limits: what she is saying is that certain roads have certain speed limits nation wide. Inside city limits is 50. outside city limits it’s 100, and the autobahn has a recommended speed of 130. These speeds don’t require a sign, because it is valid all over Germany. If a speed limit deviates from these speed limits (like at a crossing or in a residential area that requires lower speed limits) it needs a sign to say so, otherwise the default is valid.

[@thorstenbrandt6256]

Same for other countrys in europe. I'm not sure if it true for every country, but if you cross the border to denmark, sveden etc. you have a sigh telling you the "standard" speed-limit in citys, out of citys and on the highway. Imagine that in the US: from sea to shining sea the same speed limt. And a deviation from this standard "should" (there's some debate, if thats true in every case 😛) have a real reason, like a crossing, a hazardous stretch of road (dangerous corners etc.), noise reduction or - motly within city-limits - areas were kids are (schools, kindergardens)

[@Sven_H]

Also the recommended speed on the autobahn means, you are free to drive faster, if the situation is okay for that (i.e. no heavy traffic, weather condition etc.). However, in the event of an accident, you can be held partially at fault, even if you are innocent, if you were driving significantly faster than 130 km/h. Another thing is, you have to drive slower if it is needed, for example if there are bad road conditions or bad sight, sadly many people in germany forget about that so we have quite some speed limiting signs before obvious sharp curves or humps where it normally shouldn't be necessary to place a speed limiting sign. Fun fact, you can also be fined for driving very slow, if there is no reason to do so (happens barely or never in reality, i quess). May sound difficult, but you get a feeling for that.

[@SeikenKato]

In the video, the sign with "130" was wrong. The right sign for a recommended speed is a blue square with a white number in it.

[@Sven_H]

@@SeikenKato That's right, at least until 2013, before this sign (380) was removed from the StVo. On the sign 393 (speed limit info on country borders), it is still shown as a blue square with white number.

[@origJodahs]

@@Sven_H It is wrong, because a white round sign with red border doesn't tell you a recommended speed, it tells you the allowed max speed. Even if sign 380 is not used anymore, it would be the right sign to show the recommended speed or use no sign instead of a wrong sign.

[@Twaqy]

17:34 I'm from Germany and i can tell you, it doesn't make more sense. There are many good videos about the major flaws of this system. It is a system established in the 19th century to create a solid workforce and destroy any creativity. I'd love to see you react to a video that talks about the flaws of our school system. If u need a recommendation of a video, text me.

[@christianbehrens6134]

Nice video reaction. Collecting Pfand-bottles is actually quite common over here. I'm from Hamburg, Germany and we encourage people even with some stickers on the thrash bins, to put the bottles next to it. Wrt. gas pumping - The stations are usually under video surveillance so that pumping your gas without paying will probably not pay off in the long term. ;-)

[@BruceCarbonLakeriver]

and before the big video surveillance existed nobody got robbed broke either.... -.-

[@morbvsclz]

As a German, I gotta say... Plastic bags are just objectively better at doing the job of a bag. Taking out my shopping in paper bags, I often had them rip. So I do the proper German thing and have a foldable storage crate in my shopping cart, which I place all the items into. I bring that crate filled with empty "Pfand bottles" from home to return at the store and bring it home full of groceries from the store. No crate shall ever be transported empty -> that'd be inefficient. And it's quick at the cash out (no bagging) and just one thing to lift into the trunk for your entire shopping and you're off. Of course only after returning your shopping cart and getting your deposited coin back... That's what I call a German shopping experience 😀

[@zitronenwasser]

I always go shopping with a big, reusable Plastic Bag. Like as in zhe material has the stiffness of an Ikea bag, never failed me so far and can hold more weight than a paper bag usually can, while still being reusable

[@TFHanisch1978]

I like to take an empty "HARIBO" crate from the shop.. but Yes - this "bag" thing is just a kind of greenwashing.. The classic german plastic bags were just more sustainable, because the use much less ressources to produce, and weres re-used, if not to carry anything then as a trashbag, and - in Germany the trash isnt just put on deponies, but at least gets into "thermic recyclinng" - it`s burned and the energy is used for heating and electricity..

[@greentoby26]

So you do not buy single-use bags at all anymore, but you bring your own infinitely reusable container. Now think again about sustainability.

[@TwinPeaksIndustries]

Personally, depending on how much I need to buy, I either bring a fabric bag, they last for ages, or a big basket (like, almost fills a shopping cart big).

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

​@@zitronenwasseraye, those bags are tanks and can take so much abuse.

[@GerritSchroeder]

Regarding gas stations in Germany: For as long as I can remember, German gas stations very often do not only sell gas but also work as little stores where you can buy sweets, drinks (also alcoholic!) and other stuff. So it was pretty normal to go inside to pay for fuel, you might need some other stuff as well. The tenants of the gas stations make there money not with gas but with the other stuff. Recently more gas stations popped up where there is no cashier, just a machine. You just swipe or insert your card, machine tells you "you're good for 120 € of gas", it opens a transaction with your card issuer. Then you fill your car. When done, the machine will just book the amount you used and you are ready to go. This system is also used at stations that do no have a cashier 24/7. Gas stations are monitored by CCTV so if you try to fill up your car and run away without paying afterwards, police will take care of you.

[@MoikMC]

In most Gas Stations from 22.00 o glock, you cant buy an Alcohol , because the Truck drivers should not become drunk.

[@MoikMC]

Especially at the autobahn

[@FLScrabbler]

​@@MoikMC thought it was midnight when sale becomes illegal...

[@Nelalalu]

I’ve only see those self cashier gas stations in the Netherlands tbh

[@smirnov__ice]

​@@MoikMC Gas Stations work the opposite here in Germany. Especially if you live in a smaller town, Gas Stations are the only place to go when it's late and you need alcohol.

[@derKrueger]

i am from germany, so excuse my unperfect english ;) 1) the warning triangle has to be at least 100meter behind the car. 2) your corolla MAY tow up to it's own weight, as long as the manufactor of you hitch say's the hitch is up for that weight. 3) the red stripe across the citty "shild" anounces that, in this case, the town of "Wilster" is finished and that "Schotten" is 6Km ahead. 4) the general cittylimit is 50Km/h but we have many "30 Zone"s, mostly residental areas or near schools, kindergardens, hospitals, ... 5) yes, the general speedlimit outside cittylimits is 100 but mostly it is reduced zu 70 due to sharp curves, ... 6) she is right, you can determain if you allowed to drive 50 or 30 km/h by looking at your surounings. if the trafic is regulated by signs, trafic lights, ... it is 50 if it isn't the speed limit is 30 and traffic coming from the right has "the right of way" (google). 7) it is called "deposit" you pay 8-25 cent more each bottle with you get returned if you bring the bottle back to the store. and yes, it is a way how poor people earn some extra money, they colect empty bottles. the "Pfand" is not only on bottles but also on cans and every other container for drinking liquids. 8) I'm not familiar with the american education terms so i try to explain it as good as i can. you have elementry school, classes 1-4, until you'r about 10/11 and then we split up, regarding to our performances/grades, in middle school, classes 5-10, until you'r 16/17. there is, from low to high: the "Hauptschule", lowest learning standards, mainly for people who do manual labor, low wages jobs and, if your performance is good, a craftsman ship; the "Realschule", medium learning standards, mainly craftsman but if you perform good enough you may enter high school afterwards or admitt for an office job; the "Gymnasium", highest learning standards, you may aply for an office job but it is nearly guaranteed that you may aply for high school. the "Gesamtschule" is an "experiment" that try's to combine all 3 above with some advantages but als several disadvantages, go explain that in detail i have to write a masters degree ;) annyway, you may get a high school degree, clases 11-13, either at a Gymnasium or a Gesamtschule with alowes you to enter collage/university. she is wrong in one point, even the kid of the poorest parents CAN get a masters degree in germany, you don't have to pay tution untill you enter "uni" and even than we have "BaFöG", practicly a student loan from the government, BUT the problem is that the kids of educated, and most likely because of better jobs welthier, parents have a better "home support" in terms of explaining the subjects is has problems with. but i guess that is a worldwide problem. and no, you'r not dead set at the age of 10/11. 1) if you'r grades are good enough you may change schools 2) we have something that's called "2. Bildungsweg", 2nd educational way?!?, there are several way to regain anny graduation you are "inteligent" enough for. yeah, craftsmen are dying out here as well, manly because it's a dirty and most importently underpayed job or to quote one of our finance ministers after a banking crisis "bankers are the 'heavy lifters' of our economy" so pushing numbers has more worth than building something. 9) yeah, 2 times disel was a bad exeample ;) but usualy we have more hoses, one for E5, one for E10, one for "super" and one for Disel. the two times disel is mainly for trucks because one of those hoses have a WAY more pumping ratio, and won't fit into a car, so that you can fill a 1200ltr (~250-300galons) tank in roughly 30 minutes ^^ but yeah, she is right, you go to the gas station, fill your tank and then enter the "shop" and pay your bill. and every gas station is wathed by camera, so steal gas, you won't get far until the police pulles you over ^^ i hope i could answer some of your questions :)

[@Shaun1909]

About the gas stations in germany. There are two types Supervised and unsupervised. On the supervised you first fill up, then get in the station, say your number and pay after you finnished filling up. On the unsupervised you have to swipe your card first, you fill up and the price is charged from your card after you finished filling up automatically.

[@be666chan]

The pfand thing is actually made quite convenient. You go and do your grocery shopping -> go home and drink the contents and collect them -> take the bag with these phand things -> put the pfand stuff into the machine by the grocery store (you get a receipt that works like money) -> go to do your groceries and use the receipt -> and (re)cycle continues

[@schnelma605]

7:26 The sign means you are leaving Wilster and Schotten is in 6 km. Unless otherwise regulated, the maximum speed is: - in urban areas: 50 km/h - outside urban areas: 100 km/h - autobahn and autobahn-like federal roads: 130 km/h recommended speed The sign also shows the boundary between "outside urban areas" and "in urban areas"

[@fasfafsa8667]

But the cities keep doing more 30 km/h to reduce the noise. The rest is like you said.

[@stevenvanhulle7242]

@@fasfafsa8667 Here in Belgium it's also often 30 km/h in cities, though more for safety than for noise reduction. Most accidents with bicycles happen in cities, and at 30 km/h the chances of serious injuries are far less than at 50 km/h.

[@stevenvanhulle7242]

100 km/h outside urban areas is pretty fast. In Belgium it used to be 90 km/h (still fast), until they reduced it to 70 km/h a couple of years ago. (On bigger roads there are often signs though indicating a max speed of 90 km/h.)

[@Evangelion81]

The German Gaspump shown is a Diesel only Pump and mainly for Trucks, featuring a bigger hose with a higher flowrate for faster refueling. This bigger Hose wont fit for a normal Car to avoid overfill and spilling but you got a second, normal sized hose so Cars with a Dieselengine can use the pump aswell.

[@follower4219]

If you have a new Corolla, it could pull at least 450 kg and up to 1300 kg depending on the kind of caravan.

[@StyleWarz]

Yes we do have homeless here in Germany. It's not uncommon to see less fortunate people (even elderly) on the street going through the city recycling bin to find some bottles to return. Usually in the larger cities you place your bottles next to the bins (if you don't care about the deposit) so people don't have to dig in the trash.

[@paula7858]

Yes and if there was a party outside in a park they will go there afterwards and collect everything with shopping carts

[@thurindot7384]

This! It is definitly a thing here. And like @stylewarz said: to give those homeless people or people in need some dignity we put the bottles next to a bin. At least dont let them dig in the dirt, if they need to go hunting „Pfand“ for a living.

[@vast634]

They are not homeless because they are too poor to afford a place to sleep. Anyone could get shelter. Its usually runaways, drinkers and drug users who dont want help or stick to the housing rules.

[@thurindot7384]

@@vast634 well, yeah. Kind of. But it’s not as simple as that. Sure - no one in Germany has to be homeless, I agree. But there are quite a few difficulties to overcome to get into social housing. And I wrote not only about homeless, but about people in need as well. A lot of old people sadly need to push their income with collecting bottles/cans.

[@baim1441]

Hey, a german speaking here, Speed limit in cities is 50 km/h, unless a sign sais otherwise. The pfand system allows you to bring a bottle to every store that sells bottles, so basically anywhere. If you find one, you can bring it to any store and get your 25 cents back. Glass bottles are 8 or 15 cent. The split up happens after elementary school. The teacher advises one of the 3 forms of school: slower learning kids will go to Hauptschule, average learning kids will go to Realschule and fast learning kids go to Gymnasium. This is so that each type of learning ability will get the best teaching. But if you develop and become a better or worse learner than you will move up or down to a different school. The really fast ones are able to skip years.

[@jan-lukas]

Though nowadays gymnasium has sadly become average...

[@FinnHBs]

splitting us up after the fourth grade is the first wedge being driven between poeples and their sense of society. fuck our system

[@baim1441]

@@FinnHBs I think the system has its perks. Definitely also has some flaws.

[@Alexbdm04]

The only problem is sometimes you don't get to go to a better school if you improve your grades. So almost every student or teacher has to pick in elementary school what will happen in the future.

[@manuelwie]

@@jan-lukas it isnt so much that the gymnasium has become average, but that every single average (and below avg.) kid gets to go to gymnasium because parents basically force them to. basically as per the motto "if you dont go to the gymnasium, you are doomed" (school forms like the hauptschule and realschule are seen as lower tier schools or schools for stupid people). my sister teaches in a gymnasium and she has received threats from parents for something normal like giving the class some homework (some parents tried to take her to court for this exact reason once - its absolutely mental) and been reprimanded by superiors for giving a child a failing grade because schools get money (in whatever way, idk. budgeting stuff probably) for every child that successfully makes it through it.

[@konstantinrheker4671]

At 16:02 about plastic bottle recycling. All sold bottles got a bar code so it doesn't matter where to return the empty bottle. I.e. you could buy a bottle at Cologne at 'walmart' and return in in Frankfurt at a different supermarket like 'penny' or others. So there's no inconvenience to return empty PET bottles only where you bought them. Reason behind: Especially these PET bottles are directly recycable without chemical conditioning and main target is to get almost all back to recycling.

[@cieran03]

Hi, I found your channel and I do think watching you gives us (non-Americans) a positive insight to what people think they know about us Germans and -to be frank- gives us some hope that not all (US-)Americans are -well- you know... I really thank you for that ! In this video you commented on one of Alexis Haley´s videos that I have watched some time ago and I would like to give you some additional information on that part about our school system... (sorry for the long text following, but there has gone a lot of thought in that system of education and I want to give you an overview at least) What bothered me in her video was the lack of understanding why there are "three paths of education" in Germany. This is absolutely NOT about separating, selecting or as you said "send children down a certain path". On the contrary. The initial concept has -as have many things- evolved from the idea not to repeat terrible things that happened in Germany until 1945 in combination with the needs of society after WW2. Where many people go wrong is thinking that our system is based on restricting and directing childrens development education. It is instead based on the idea of supporting them regardless of personal background or abilities. You know that we have three possible primary "roads" following elementary school: Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium. First thing you need to know The names of these types of school date back long before WW2. Initially they were different paths indeed and you might say Hauptschule was for the working class, Realschule for the middle and Gymnasium for the upper class, though that ist not completely accurate. Today, the three different school forms (the names kept maybe because we are not that good at new names) provide an integrated education instead of deviding the children into classes (I am talking about the idea, not what some say has become of it). But -of course- they provide different levels of education... Ususally it is said that finishing "Hauptschule" provides all basic knowledge on writing, reading, understandig, math, history, social and maybe maybe manual skills. Basically what you need in life. Finishing "Realschule" takes this knowledge to a higher level and qualification. This level usually is required to train for a job as skilled worker such as mechanic or roofer... "Gymnasium" provides even higher qualification and the base for further education at university. A child may tackle all three levels at once or in smaller steps. That´s what the different paths are for ! This is just a very superficial view of course. Very important to know to understand the concept: Gymnasium includes Hauptschule and Realschule ! If you quit Gymnasium after 9th grade, you finished Hauptschule and Realschule after tenth. Likewise Realschule includes Hauptschule under the same conditions. But it works the other way round, too. Having successfully finsihed Hauptschule, you can either quit and start to work (usually at around 16 years of age) OR you can continue at Realschule or Gymnasium if you (that is to say the child in question) want to learn more or even have the idea of higher qualification and going to university. The initial idea of having these three ways to go now is to provide children who -having finished elementary school- have certain problems such as writing deficiencies, math problems, you name it, with options to reach the highest levels of education. Some children may even be behind in their development... so, other than in the pre-war school forms with the same names, today they provide different ways and methods to achieve the same levels of education if they follow the possible paths to the end. Example: At the finish of elementary school, a child has not reached a stage in his or her development (be that what it may), he or she can either stay in elementary another term OR progress to e.g. Hauptschule where there is more time and different methods of teaching than in the other two school forms, giving the child more time to develop further and to learn in an easier way taking smaller steps . So this is more the "not leaving anybody behind" way of thinking. Apart from that, parents can override the suggestions of the board of the elementary school and can even send their child to Gymnasium rather than Hauptschule, had that been the proposed after evaluation.... So in theory all children have the same perspective to end up as a doctor of medicine (just an example) no matter which way they go. Of course the idea does not work perfectly: Firstly, parents may decide to send their child to Gymnasium eventhough the recommendation from elementary school was -let`s say- Hauptschule. This might turn out ok, but all too often children with that recommendation face real problems with the requirements to follow classes and might have better started according to recommendation, which would have given them more time and space. And since their education must not end with Hauptschule, they can catch up and even finish Gymnasium eventually. Secondly -and that is a social problem- parents may decide to send their child to Hauptschule even if the recommendation was for Gymnasium. There are plenty of reasons for that, ranging from idiology, belief over financial issues to forms of neglect. Thirdly, the recommendations could be flawed if not done carefully and with the childs interest in mind... The result of these three aspects is of course that the school system in Germany has social issues and to some extent disturbing flaws in details. To compensate for that, we have created a number of alternative school forms such as Gesamtschule (integration the three other forms into one using a system of courses with different levels) or special schools for mentally disadvantaged children, trying to provide a maximum of possibilities. The whole point of all this concept is not to devide children in social or other kinds of classes or categories, but to give them the chances to be educated in a way that suits their development (and not least interests) in order NOT to limit their chances in life. Eventhough this is a lot of text, there is much more to it, be it positive or negative in details. But you must understand that this system was created after children were cut of from education because of religious belief, status, health and other alibi "reasons" under the NAZI regime, not least of which were mental issues leading to a total cut off from education and in consequence a dropout of society and humanity even as seen by the NAZIs. For Germans today (except for some stupid %&"§&%"(/&"$/&&....) it is clear beyond any doubt that this must never ever happen again. So -leaving aside the flaws- our system of education in its concept and idea is NOT to cut any child off from any opportunity but to offer different ways to achieve what they desire or -in some cases- their parents allow or can afford. (Of course there is finacial support, too !) In Germany education is a must and a right for any child, provided, supported and secured by the state. For any child, "Hauptschule" is the minimum level of education to be reached, but the full range is guaranteed to be open for anybody and at any age (you can even finish "Gymnasium" at the age of 60 if you didn´t get around to it before that.) There may be reasons not to go all the way, but these are based on other issues that are not linked the education system itself. I wrote this at 3:30 am, so please excuse typos and errors I made... ;-)

[@andreaslange8256]

Having a hitch at your family car is quite common in Germany, not only to tow big campers but just for small open car trailers of maybe 2m of length. Usage is like a mini pickup truck. Fixing a bicycle carrier on the hitch is also quite common, considered the most durable way to transport your bike besides inside the trunk.

[@Divig]

That is one of those things I thought was universal. Then I learned more about the US and their trucks. (Swede here)

[@LeyCarnifex]

@@Divig ahaha same, I was _so_ confused the first time I saw an American be like "you tow things with your CAR?!", thinking 'what else would I use?? my bike??'

[@induristan]

Most of the average cars can tow at least ~850 Kg, rhe bigger ones often more than 1500Kg. Why shouldn't we tow....?

[@Soken50]

​@@LeyCarnifex Funny thing is, bikes towing things are also becoming more common in cities for food/postal/package delivery, last mile cargo deliveries on U-shaped pallet trailers, ect. So while you're not gonna tow a camper or a jet ski, you very well could tow some light short haul stuff in town on your bike.

[@DeCSSData]

@@induristan Yes it depends mostly on the cooling capacity and oil cooling and of course brakes. But in germany cars are made for driving 150, 180 and more the brakes and the cooling is better from the start as in other regions of the world. So towing is often not a problem for at least 1,5to. My Audi can tow 2,5to and my Toyota can tow 3,5to.

[@jgr_lilli_]

When I was a kid, there was a bench behind our backyard that was a drunkard-meetup-spot, and the usually chucked their empty beer bottles over the fence, into our yard. My brother and me could collect the bottles and bring them back to the nearby store to get the Pfand (8 cent per bottle). Many homeless, pensioners and other poorer people search in well-frequented places for Pfand-bottles, some even carry gloves and a flashlight to search the trashbins, so it became a rule in the last few years to put Pfand-bottles not INSIDE the trashbins, but on the floor next to them, to give someone else a chance to cash in the few cents if you're not going to return them yourself anyway.

Yes, the "put the bottle beside the bin and not in it" has only been a custom (not a _rule)_ in recent times.

[@user-bs4qu7tb2g]

Pfand lying on the street is basically free change. Of course, people pick bottles up and bring them to the nearest Pfandautomat. That's the whole reasoning behind the system 😂😂😂

[@meathome7266]

In Belgium, at a gasstation with no service/shop, you put your debitcards in the terminal next to the pumps, you select whether you want gas/diesel/adblue and from which pump. The system takes a 150 euro 'reservation' on your bank account. Once done, you get a receipt with date/time/pump number/product type/ price-per-liter/volume and total price. As simple as that.....

[@yanishaaares8390]

Ryan - I am almost with you on that straw thing. The paper straws are worse health-wise, most of them leak chemicals, especially if used for milkshakes or hot drinks, but not being able to live without plastic straws is - maybe a bit harsh? Try metal or glass - they do great, are reusable, and can come in pretty colors =D

[@TraciaChoLeem]

Can confirm. Especially the part that they can be reused after simply cleaning them was the reason why I got some for my family ages ago and they are soooo popular with the kids and their friends. They are a wonderful alternative to plastic straws

[@UnitXification]

So you always gonna carry your own personal straw like an idiot?

[@Tamili351]

Just not using a straw also works 😊

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

@@Tamili351 It sucks.

[@laetitiak125]

My 1st generation of reusable straws at home are plastic ones in different colours, I now have metal ones that I use preferentially, using the others only for cocktails when I receive many guests. In some restaurant (usually Italian ones), they sometimes provide hollow pastas as straws. Totally compostable and if you are really hungry while waiting for your meal, you can even eat them 😄

[@corncutter]

Regarding your question about homeless people collecting plastic bottles: Yes, that's what happens. Also often old people who aren't homeless but just have a tiny pension. It's pretty common when you sit on the river bank or in a park having a few beers with your friends (yes, that also is pretty normal and you don't have to hide your bottle^^) that people come by asking for empty bottles - in that case it's glass bottles, of course. Only Barbarians drink beer out of a plastic bottle :D -. Before heading back home we also like to put them clearly visible on a wall or on top of a trash can so that people in need can find and return them. It's called "Pfand gehört daneben" ("Pfand belongs next to it"). It helps the people and it helps the environment and keeping the streets clean.

[@mitchclement]

As for gas, here in Canada the use of a card is offered at the pump but you also can pump without a card and go in and pay. I never use a card for safety reasons, always just pump and go in to pay

[@rikschaaf]

15:23 You forget that in Europe, most grocery stores are a 5 min walk away from home, rather than a 30 min drive, so it's not as much of an inconvenience as you think. Also, grocery stores do grocery delivery nowadays and have the option for you to give back the bottles at the door when that delivery arrives. In that case all you'd need is a place to store your bottles until the next grocery delivery (which usually comes in plastic crates for the food that you'd be able to reuse for that bottle storage. Those crates also have "pfand"

[@44WarmocK77]

Concerning the education system: you can always change to a different school type depending on your grades. I had quite a few students from a Realschule in my Gymnasium class as their grades were good enough. EDIT: the german gas pump was obviously more tailored towards trucks. It had AdBlue (for the catalyst system to remove gases like NOx from the exhaust gases), Ökodiesel (which is biological diesel made from plants) and normal Diesel. Larger gas stations usually have one of those for the semi trucks and are closer to the road to ease the access to it - a 40-ton truck maneuvering around for half an hour just to get to the pump ain't helping anybody, after all. ^^

[@pinkdragon4830]

13:06 In our town of about 40 000 people there was one homeless guy who always walked around with a teddy bear and was very friendly to all people,everyone knew him.He never asked for money but people often gave it to him.Him passing away was a huge deal for everybody in town

[@c.kokosnuss9343]

Alf?

[@christiankastaun9533]

I remember a guy called Karate-Werner who passed away two years or so ago, named so because he would always walk around in a white gi with a bunch of medals pinned on it. He was a retiree used to collect cans and bottles throughout the year and spend it on a year-long rail pass (the BahnCard 100) that would entitle him to unlimited usage of the long-distance train services of Deutsche Bahn. He would go back and forth on the route between Hamburg and Munich, one of the longest routes, use the bathrooms at the train station lounges (entry here as well as coffee and other nonalcoholic beverages are also included in the BC100). When he passed, people put up a small memorial with a picture and some flowers next to the service office at the central train station in Hanover. I've also seen parks and areas where people hang out to picnic and have a beer or two or eight, and it's somewhat customary to let pfand collectors have the empty bottles when you're done; almost noone can be arsed to take them back home anyway, and they can make a good amount of extra cash that way.

[@8Flokati8]

If he wa so nice und you liked him that way, why didn't you really helped him, not just put a little money to him? Didn't he want it?

[@pinkdragon4830]

@@8Flokati8 Because I was 10 or 11 and my mom never gave me an allowance.

[@joethesheep4675]

31:00 most ppl here bring their bags or boxes or whatever they prefer to use to the shop and put their groceries in there. So its a reuse thing pretty much everybody has at home. If you forget it at home you can always buy a paperbag or a carton box at the store. No need to throw everything in your car seperately and then needing to pick everything up a second time only to then pick it up a third time inside the house when you put each thing exactly where it needs to go.

[@rexxxx1984]

At the picture with the fuel station, you could not find the gasoline, because the picture shows a special Fuel station for big trucks that had only Diesel. One has a bigger handle to make sure you can not put it into a normal car, that one is special for trucks and has a different taxation. Also, all handles have a special shape, so that you can not really but the wrong in your car.

[@neurocrafter2428]

One thing I find funny is how she mentions teachers among the models and construction workers. You can become a CEO in Germany with a Bachelor's degree, but to become a teacher, you need a 3-tier education (Bachelor + Master + Referendariat (works somewhat like residency in medicine)) which is the longest and most time- and money-consuming type of education (law, medicine, psychotherapy, teaching).

[@thekosylife]

Something else to note about the Pfand system is that some of the plastic bottles we use are made of a thicker material so they can actually be used multiple times. They will just be cleaned and refilled. Same with glass bottles. The single-use plastic ones will be recycled. And no, not inconvenient at all, it's just a matter of getting used to it I guess 😊

[@lightawake]

FYI in NZ at petrol stations, we just pull up to a numbered stand and fill up ourselves as much as we want - whether it's $5, or 20 litres, fill-up or something in between. Once we're done, we go into the station, tell them the stand number and pay for it, along with any other purchases we pick-up inside. There is a self-pay credit card option at some stands now, but it's faster to just go inside and pay at the counter. It never occurred to me until I watched this, but I guess it is kind of an honesty system lol. There probably is the odd person that fills up and just runs off, as there are signs around saying there are video cameras monitoring the number plates, but I've never seen anyone do it.

[@frenkus1971]

Hey there, The the round white sign, with the red circle is always a speed limit sign. Recommandation sign are blue square signs with white numbers in it.

[@tepetti]

In Finland we have a similar system for plastic (and glass) bottles as well as for aluminium drink cans. When I lived in a dorm as a student, we collected our bottles together and used that money to buy stuff everyone used, like coffee, paper towels or dish soap.

[@mick-berry5331]

That was a real surprise for me. I would never have guessed you thought a Corolla could not tow at least a ton.Jetski no problem. Now I remember never seeing 'normal' cars towing in the US. Outside big cities, most everyone tows small trailers for firewood, garden trash or cement here. Pickups, though, are almost non-existant here in Austria with the exception of tradesmen.

[@sulevturnpuu5491]

But manual versus automatic. I dont know if modern automatics can adapt to towing as well as manual can.

[@TrackmaniaKaiser]

@@sulevturnpuu5491 yeah, my Sister in law tows her horses with an automatic vw touran without any problem

[@Mozart4000]

​@@sulevturnpuu5491They can, it's the same.

[@nox5555]

@@Mozart4000 Itts not, but european cars have much more modern automatic gearboxes so the difference is so small that you dont need to care about it. American cars on the other hand have very shitty old automatic gearboxes and have a huge problem with towing.

[@guzziwheeler]

@@sulevturnpuu5491 They can even better, because they have a torque converter instead of a friction clutch. The converter is a wear free hydraulic clutch, and it makes driving off easier.

[@lisar3944]

my very first car was a vw rabbit, and it had a tow hitch on it. I had no idea why and I never tried to put it to use but my friends always teased me about it. That car hauled ass, too - loved that car.

[@neralem]

Here in Germany we have different pumps for different fuels on each gas station. The picture showed a pump only for Diesel. It offers normal car diesel and truck diesel. The other pumps are gasoline. And yes, you just drive next to the pump and fill up your car. After that you go in and pay cash or with your card. Remember the number on your pump and tell it to the cashier. No one steals gas. The pumps are viewed by cameras. If you just leave they have you and your license plate on camera.

[@loschwahn723]

nö da war 95 oktan auch dabei

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

And the good thing is you don't have to bring the bottles to the exact store you bought them at. Basically every store will accept them. So the next time you go shopping and pack your bags, you just fill them with empty bottles on the way to the store and with groceries on the way back home.

[@SiqueScarface]

One very visible effect of the Pfand (deposit) on drink containers back in the 1990ies, when it was introduced was the amount of litter along the roads. It basically vanished. Until then, people were throwing bottles and other stuff out of their car windows while driving. But now, as it is actually a financial loss to do so, bottles aren't thrown out that easily, and as you have to keep the bottles anyway, also the other litter does not get thrown out that often.

[@LythaWausW]

Wow, so in the 80s Germany was like America in that regard. I cannot imagine it. I drove to England and first thing I noticed was bottles everywhere.

[@projektg89]

13:02 one good point of getting your money back is. Its sometimes like a piggybank you are buying bottles in bigger numbers for not going buy something to drink to often and you got lazy to bring every single bottle back so you collect some of it and anytime you think, "Now its time to clean up you should bring back the bottles" and sometimes its matching with timing you didnt have much money spared so you can make a whole shopping on groceries.

[@meinnaame6988]

The yello sign is a (example made up) city limits sign. It means multiple things: You are leaving "Wilster", coming up next is "Schotten" in 6km (not quite 4mi). Behind the sign, the default speed limit changes from 50 to 100 kph (about 32 to 63mi). The back side of this sign will read "Wilster" (not striked out) as you would enter the city limits. And the default (if there is no other speed limit sign) speed limit woul change from 100 to 50 kph. Signs are colour coded, too: Autobahn has white letters on blue ground (analogue to US freeways but not green), overland ≠ Autobahn signage is yellow ground and black letters. Black letters on "dirty white"(or very light grey) signs tell you things WITHIN the city limits. E.g.: After you have entered Schotten, the signs telling you, where the central station is (or the elementary school, or, or...) will be white. If you see a yellow sign, that would tell you s/th about outside the city. And white on blue is strictly for all high-speed roads.

[@_Libosido]

@Ryan 24:15 - yes, and it works like that across Europe. I used to be working on the gas station and I was a witness of probably 4 steals within 3 years. I had also the option _(using a lot at night/early morning __0:00__-5:00am)_ to lock all pumping stands through PC inside and keep them locked for suspicious people/cars without plate _(so there was always option to make gas station in "American style", but you dont do that)_ .

[@steffenryll]

Well, not in all that generality. Like, in Italy you'll often find unmanned gas station where you need to pay/ authorize before you can pump fuel.

[@artforz]

@@steffenryll In Germany, those are quite rare except for stupidly overpriced stations along highways. Simple reason - there's almost no profit in gas. There's plenty profit in snacks/beverages/newspapers/tobacco/... And larger stations need to have *someone* keep an eye on the truck driver washrooms/showers/... 24/7 anyways.

[@schnelma605]

2:05: There are no precise regulations about the distance at which the triangle should be set up. However, there are guidelines that are recommended to be adhered to: Inner town: 50 meters Country road: 100 meters Autobahn: 150 to 400 meters If there is a curve or hilltop at this distance, the triangle should always be in front of it.

[@_clemens_]

Amd sadly, you sometimes see people putting it 5 m behind there car on the Autobahn...which is pretty pointless.

[@daveking3494]

My parents moved around a lot in the states and then in Europe, so I ended up going to 14 schools in my first 12 years of school. For me, it was completely normal. Plus I learned how to speak fluent German, pretty good, French and Italian. So moving around also can have great benefits.

[@nikicamalezic5388]

Maximum weight of a towed camper without breaking mechanism must be under 750kg ,and a vehicle must be double that weight. Drivers with B category license cannot drive vehicle which combined mass (car+camper) exceeds 3500kg. Speed limit is also omitted 80 - 100km/h depending on a Eurpean country.

[@CorgiFan-ti8if]

If you drove off without paying, the gas station would get your information from your license plate through the police and send you a bill.

[@tillneumann406]

Plus it will file a criminal complaint for fraud, embezzlement or theft against you (depends on the situation, but which it is will be determined by the court if the person gets caught). Doesn't help, however, if the car or at least the registration plate was stolen as well.

[@jan-lukas]

The thing is: criminal charges can't be placed on cars, you need to actually prove who drove the car in that exact situation. And that's quite difficult most of the time

[@iljabuchmuller7889]

... slightly increased bill

[@EngineScypex]

@@jan-lukas Not if it's a criminal charge like theft. As long as the car wasn't stolen, the car owner has to name the driver or take responsibility, because as the one who owns the car, you'd be an accomplice to the crime. Also Gas Stations have video recordings (that's where they get the license plate in the first place), so it's no problem to get a picture from the driver as well. With that, the car owner can't even say they forgot who they lend the car to.

[@sofiah7549]

Dear Ryan, regarding your question about the German gas stations, there are a variety of options for filling up your car. On the one hand, there are the gas stations where you drive up to the gas pump and simply start pumping gas, the amount of gas and the price are then shown on a monitor on the pump, now you go into the gas station and say your pump number, which you then pay. The second option is to go to the cashier beforehand and tell them how much you want to fill up with gas. You then pay for this and start tapping this amount. Then you can just drive away. I hope this helped you. Many greetings from Germany.

[@ChrisDraussen]

In my opinion as a German, the "problem" in the US is... There os no value for plastic bottles. Create a value what ever it may be and the littering will be much better in crowded areas.

[@patrickandresen26]

In Denmark, we have had pant on our sodas and beers since 1942. And it has expanded to pretty much every type of drinking container now. It's kinda nice because every time you go grocery shopping and have a bag of pant bottles with you, it's like getting a coupon for the stuff you're buying. And if you don't want to bring it with you grocery shopping, there are pant stations where you just dump all the sacks of bottles you have collected nice and easy in a machine, and it sends you the money online. I once delivered bottles worth 200$ at the end of one month, of course collected over a long period of time. Every country should have this kind of system or something similar

[@mirkozlikovski9553]

Ryan, your Corolla can most likely tow somewhere around 1300kg/2860 pounds of load on a trailer with brakes and around 750kg/1650 pounds on a trailer without brakes.....so, you can get your jet-ski 😁😉 and having pictures on traffic signs mean that you don't have to know the language to understand what they are demanding you have to do or what they are warning you of.... so a Spanish speaking driver in Poland or Sweden have no problem with traffic rules and regulations and vice-versa....

[@timmytubede]

5:00 The deal with towing in Germany is that trailers are required to have trailer brakes if - they exceed a maximum weight of 750kg (1653 pounds) - or if they have more than one axle (two axles within one meter to each other are considered as just one axle for this) - or if they have an axle weight that's more than half of the empty weight of the towing vehicle you're going to use - or if the combination of towing vehicle and trailer would otherwise not meet the required minimum braking decceleration So things like a huge camper without trailer brakes just don't exist over here. And you can definitely tow a trailer with a Toyota Corolla :D

[@wilhelmtell3427]

In Germany, traffic signs are referred to as “Schilderwald” ( sign forrest). Almost all speeds are displayed. Free drive on the highway is relative. Recommended speed is 130 km/h. You can drive faster without signs. But you have to adapt to driving in rain, winter and heavy traffic. In the event of an accident, they will check whether you drove appropriately and may be given partial blame even if you were not at fault. And then it can happen that you have to pay. If you have good insurance and a lawyer, the insurance will take over, but it will put you in a more expensive class. In the end you pay anyway.

[@tobias5224]

Paying at the US gasstations was one of the wildest things (on vacation) as most pumps would not accept our credit cards. So we always had to go in and experienced the variety of possibilities.

[@mascami]

Das stimmt! That's true. Always an inconvenience when the Visa-Card wasn't accepted.

[@matthiashunstock4713]

Everytime I tried this, the card terminals at the pumps wanted to have the ZIP code, and of course it did not work with non-US credit cards.

[@cdhagen]

@@matthiashunstock4713 I put in zip code "90210" (like the TV show :-)) and it worked in 90% of all cases. If it didn't work, I had to go in and pre-pay which is especially fun with a rental car where you have no idea how much it's going to be.

[@wollis3802]

Hi from Germany^^ Concerning the "Pfand"-thing, since that was introduced in a nationwide effort there is the phenomenon of people (homeless, retired or not) who make a living on going through waste bins, collecting plastic bottles (25c. not glass bottles, only 9 cent) and return them in masses to the stores. This got so massive that store owners had to create policies on how many bottles a person is allowed to return per day. 🤦‍♀Oh, and it's quintuple ;P

[@andix25]

The high visibility clothing in the beginning of the video was required in many countries before Germany, after all their neighbors introduced it, they also did with a 10 years delay.

[@mrtruth8962]

Attention Tourists: A VERY important German traffic law that you MUST be aware of: many intersections have no signs and the road to your right has the right of way. An exception is if there is diamond shaped yellow sign (with a white border) on the road you are driving on, in that case, YOU have right of way. Most main roads have these diamonds. There are far less stop signs and yield signs because of this law. Diamond signs are cancelled out by the next street sign or light. e.g. a yield sign would mean from that point on you had to give way to the right at intersections, unless there was another diamond after the yield sign. (also applies in Poland and some other countries) Another general clue to speed limits: if there are street lights, the limit is 50kph.

[@BruceCarbonLakeriver]

Not only Germany, this diamond rules exists in every country which subscribed to the contract of Vienna, like India, almost all African countries, all European countries, Russia, Japan, Indonesia and so on .. well, of course the US doesn't subbed to this contract hence they have their silly "almost read half of a book"-type traffic signs mess....

[@Ifixitagain]

wrong. Not all Europe. The uk and Ireland do not have that law

[@hsbio]

We also often use bicycle racks or load baskets that are placed on the trailer hitch. Roof boxes are also often installed on the roof for additional storage space. I've always never understood why you need a pickup truck. I transport pretty much everything to you with a normal car and a trailer. If I actually have to pull more than 2 tons, I'll get someone who can do it.

[@kornelobajdin5889]

Remember my dad pulling up to a ton combined with trailer with his small car that was 55 hp. Like normal cars today have a 100 at least. They can pull no problems.