Is the Autobahn a good idea?

Not only does Europe get a bunch of insanely cool cars that America doesn’t, it also has some of the best roads in the world. For travel by car, Germany’s Autobahn system is one of the best highway systems in the world. Yes, you can drive fast.

Why is the Autobahn good?

What makes the Autobahn so safe. The Autobahn is known for its unrestricted speed limits. This means you can drive as fast as you want. Contrary to popular belief, the entire Autobahn is not speed-limit-less; it has unrestricted areas as well as areas with speed limitations.

Are accidents common on the Autobahn?

The accident rate on the Autobahn is consistently lower than many other interstate style highway systems, partly because of its better construction – it has a 40 year rating. The US highway system has a 20 year rating. The annual fatality rate on the Autobahn in 2.7 per billion kilometers traveled.

Has anyone died on the autobahn?

The number of deadly accidents on stretches of autobahn that have a speed limit is 26 percent lower than on those without. In 2017, 409 people died on the autobahn and in almost half the cases, the reason was inappropriate speeding, according to the German statistics office. But that hasn’t swayed public opinion.

Is the autobahn getting a speed limit?

Permanent speed restrictions apply on around 30\% of the German autobahn network, and a further 10\% is subject to a variable speed limit that applies at certain times, depending on the weather, time of day and traffic.

What is the minimum speed on the autobahn?

First it’s worth mentioning that only around an eighth of the Autobahn network is de-restricted (no speed limit). About a third is limited to 81mph (130kph) and the rest has a variable speed limit so you need to pay attention to any restrictions before planting your left foot.

Why is the autobahn so special?

Today, the Autobahn symbolizes freedom for many, even far away from Germany. There’s now a whopping 8,080 miles (13,000 kilometers) of Autobahn, ranking it among the longest and most dense road systems in the world. Most sections have two, three or even four lanes in each direction, plus a permanent emergency lane.

What is the average speed on the autobahn?

around 120-130 kilometers an hour
That means the average speed on autobahns, barring roadwork and traffic jams, hovers somewhere around 120-130 kilometers an hour, or roughly 78 m.p.h., while the fastest drivers regularly hit speeds in excess of 220 kilometers an hour, the equivalent of 135 m.p.h.

Why is driving on the autobahn so dangerous?

Driving fast requires a lot of extra attention to the roadway, eliminating the temptation to be distracted by a phone call, texting, or eating a hamburger while driving. The injury rate for accidents that occur on the Autobahn is just 0.08 per billion kilometers.

What makes the Autobahn different from other major highways?

The Autobahn also uses camera technology to catch those who are speeding in posted speed limit areas, something that other major highway systems don’t necessarily do. There is a law of “coercion” on the Autobahn that prevents aggressive driving, even if someone is not driving as fast as another driver wishes to drive.

What is the speed limit on the autobahn in Germany?

More than 50\% of the Autobahn has no posted speed limit, although there is an advised limit of 130 kilometers per hour. The Autobahn also uses camera technology to catch those who are speeding in posted speed limit areas, something that other major highway systems don’t necessarily do.

What is the law of coercion on the Autobahn?

There is a law of “coercion” on the Autobahn that prevents aggressive driving, even if someone is not driving as fast as another driver wishes to drive. What is unique about the Autobahn is that the focus of it isn’t in the actual speed of the highway in most places, but in the structure that allows people to drive.