Speed limit on the Autobahn?

Question

The German government is thinking about placing a speed limit on the Autobahn. Reasoning being safety and fuel economy. Carterism. What is your opinion about speed limits on the autobahn or speed limits in general.

Interesting Point. While driving on the Autobahn I do get aggressive and find it difficult to slow down.

I think one of the reasons German cars what they are is the Autobahn. When the US went to the 55 they car industry started to make very crappy cars that they could not sell outside of the US. The german prinicpals remain the same, best, fastest, most fuel effiecent car, and safest.

I have been living in Germany since 1988 and drive the Autobahn daily. On the Autobahn I drive average an around 200-260kph. Traffic and road conditions permitting.

I do not think autobahns would work in the US, because part of the autobahn concepts is the strict safety inspections that German cars undergo every 2 years. The majority of US cars on the road today would not pass the this safety inpection.

Answer 1

I've always had the idea of building another road about 30 feet above of all existing roads where there is no limit, you must pass an aggressive (difficult) driving test to get a pass to drive on this road. if there is an accident your car is simply pushed off to the side of the road until you can be towed away, in the mean time a barrier is put in place to stop "curiosity slowing" and keep the flow of traffic to normal.

I figure regular testing is important too when driver's can't apss a driving test any longer (say once every 5 years) their license is revoked.

Answer 2

You do know that some parts of the Autobahn have speed limits, I presume? And the ticket for exceeding the limit in those areas is a huge ticket!
The highest speed on the Autobahn is much higher than any highway in North America, but the average speed is not that much higher. For everybody in a Porsche, or Lamborghini going 200+ km/hr, there is somebody in a Volkswagen van going 110, and dutifully staying in the right hand lane, I might add.
The government has been mulling the idea of a speed limit for the whole system for some years. Personally, I think it has to happen, with the ridiculous price of oil now. However, I wager the limit will be end up in the area of 140 to 160 km/hr.
As far as safety goes, the Autobahn has always rated quite well because of the high construction and maintenance standards. However, when one of those sudden fogs drops in on traffic going 150 km/hr, the results are spectacular. Have you ever seen 100 cars in a chain reaction accident? I have.

The whole Autobahn is subject to, and always has been subject to, speed limits for conditions. If it is raining, snowing, foggy, etc, and the police judge you are driving at an unreasonable speed for conditions, again you get a huge ticket.

Answer 3

Thats crap. I lived in Haun, Germany for about 4 years and I loved the no speed limit during the day. Yeah the accidents are bad when they do happen but they don't happen as often as you would think. I wish they would bring the autobahn to the U.S. I know they have one I think in Minnisota but they need it all over. Alot of people like the luxury of going as fast as you want.

Answer 4

Add to your point about German cars.

Automobiles built for their domestic market to NOT include features like cup holders. German engineers cannot conceive of how someone could even consider sipping a cup of coffee at 120 miles per hour.

Answer 5

I was living in Dusseldorf , Germany for 6 years and the crash accident is very high...it is important to reduce the speed limit....because in this freeway run fast cars like Mercedes, Lamborghini, BMW and Audi like slow cars like seat, fiat, and Peugeot .

Answer 6

Only in Germany -- although they do request that you travel no faster than 130 km/h.