This article discusses the impact of rising gas prices in Germany. Normally, German drivers only encounter severe congestion on their famed autobahns. The traffic flow is often hampered there by the large number of construction sites regularly installed by the German government to keep its state-of-the-art highways "in order." When the prices are lowered, many inner-city gas stations in Germany see drivers pull up in hordes. Given costs of up to 1.70 Euro (and more) per liter of unleaded fuel – the equivalent of $8.56 per gallon – it should come as no surprise that Germany's drivers have become bargain hunters. Officials say, "Frustration over high fuel costs has also set off a high level of fuel thefts across the country." The statistics indicate that criminals are mainly targeting fuel depots, heavy construction machines and large trucks. Police have recorded incidents in which criminals have drilled holes into gas tanks of private cars or used stolen or fake license plates so that they can remain unidentified at gas stations when they drive off without paying the bill. Politicians in Berlin suggested that oil firms should be required to warn of new fuel prices by 2 p.m. on the day before the change, and the altered prices would have to remain unchanged for at least 24 hours. Prices could also be stored in a central public database under a new law, which would give motorists the ability to check the cheapest pump prices in their vicinity with the help of the Internet or modern smart phones. Yet, a decision on a possible new law is not expected before the end of the summer, but some believe it will not come at all.
I usually stick to the oil prices in the US and the Middle East region, but I am particularly intrigued by these fuel thefts occurring in Germany. Yesterday I attended a colloquial in which a visitor from Germany came in and spoke about ecotourism in Germany. She spoke a lot about the culture and the German attitudes and I find it appalling that the Germans are finding a way to steal gas, very creative on their part! But I am not sure about how the new polices about announcing the new gas prices will work if the law is implemented; I personally do not see them as being really effective seeing that the people will probably continue to steal the gas since it has nothing to do with decreasing the prices.
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.
I usually stick to the oil prices in the US and the Middle East region, but I am particularly intrigued by these fuel thefts occurring in Germany. Yesterday I attended a colloquial in which a visitor from Germany came in and spoke about ecotourism in Germany. She spoke a lot about the culture and the German attitudes and I find it appalling that the Germans are finding a way to steal gas, very creative on their part! But I am not sure about how the new polices about announcing the new gas prices will work if the law is implemented; I personally do not see them as being really effective seeing that the people will probably continue to steal the gas since it has nothing to do with decreasing the prices.
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.
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