I was listening to the evening news with half an ear recently when a piece caught my attention. Seems the German autobahn recently celebrated its 75th anniversary -- on Aug. 6, to be exact.

One of the more informative articles and discussion I found on this topic is from the Web site Wired, and titled “Autobahn Turns 75, Reveals Cultural Differences in Safety.”

If you live in Germany and you’re like my husband and me, you might have come to take the presence of a motorway just a few minute’s drive away from your home pretty much for granted. But in my experience, a single trip back home to more rural parts of the U.S. and a narrowly missed flight can do wonders to renew appreciation of the “bahn.” Another great thing? The autobahns’ lack of tolls. During a road trip to Normandy, France, this past spring, an acquaintance racked up more than 80 euros in tolls. That’s got to hurt, particularly when it’s a regular occurrence.

So next time you’re cruising down the autobahn, hum the “Happy Birthday” song to the roadway. Perhaps it will result in good karma and keep you stau-free for an entire year.