How fast can you drive on the Autobahn?
130 km/h
That means 130 km/h (80 mph), the recommended top speed on the German autobahn (and the legal maximum speed on motorways in most European countries). The legal speed limit is a black number on a round white sign outlined in red (see sign images below).
Why is there no speed limit on the Autobahn?
The Nazi government passed the Road Traffic Act in 1934, limiting speeds to 60 kph (37 mph) in urban areas but setting no limit for rural roads or autobahns. In 1939, responding to fuel shortages, the government lowered the limit to 40 kph (25 mph) in town and 80 kph (50 mph) on all other roads.
What’s so special about the Autobahn?
Also, the fact that there are no fixed speed limits makes it very appealing to drivers from all around the world. Today, the Autobahn is one of the world’s largest highway networks with a total length of 7,900 miles. Depending on the section, the Autobahn features two, three or four lanes in each direction.
What is Autobahn used for?
East German autobahns were used primarily for GDR military traffic and for state-owned farming or manufacturing vehicles. The speed limit on the GDR autobahns was 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph); however, lower speed limits were frequently encountered due to poor or quickly changing road conditions.
How dangerous is 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.
How many miles is the autobahn?
8,073 miles
At speeds of 130km/h (80 mph) and up, cars can suddenly appear out of nowhere. Today’s German autobahn system stretches 12,993 km (8,073 miles, 2016 data) across most parts of Germany. Plans to increase the number and length of autobahns and other highways often meet with citizen opposition on ecological grounds.
Why doesn’t America have an autobahn?
In more or less decreasing order of importance, why America cannot handle high-speed autobahn-type freeways: Car control. It’s too easy to get a driver’s license in America, i.e., formal car control courses are not required and are required for speeds greater than 70 or 80 mph / 130 kph.
Where does the word autobahn come from in Germany?
Simple answer is the German word for highway or motorway is Autobahn. All three German-speaking nations, Germany, Austria and Switzerland use the word Autobahn for highways or motorways.
What is the speed limit on the Autobahn?
Signs suggesting a recommended speed limit of 130 km/h (80 mph) are posted along most autobahns, while urban sections and a few dangerous stretches sometimes have posted speed limits as “low” as 100 km/h (62 mph).
What are the signs for the autobahn in Germany?
Here showing the direction to Autobahn, Messe (fair), and two nearest cities with their respective highway number (if applicable). Yellow sings represent German federal highway and white signs are used to indicate a local area and small roads. Autobahn signs are always in blue color.
What kind of Car can you Drive on the Autobahn?
When the autobahn is in your backyard, you’re going to build some pretty insane cars to drive on it. There are lots of German automakers who build very fast cars, but Porsche and its tuner friends have taken nearly half the spots on this list. The 911 GT3 RTS 4.0 is a factory-prepped car, and the Porsche guys really poured all they had into it.
What does the name Autobahn mean?
Similar to some other German words, the term autobahn when used in English is usually understood to refer specifically to the national highway system of Germany, whereas in German the word autobahn is applied to any controlled highway in any country.
What are the rules for driving on the Autobahn?
- 2.1 Autobahn Speed Limit. There are certain sections on Autobahn which have no speed limits.
- 2.2 Minimum Required Speed on Autobahn. Only motor vehicles are allowed to use Autobahn.
- 2.3 Use of Hard Shoulders on the Autobahn. Autobahns have hard-surface shoulders.
- 2.4 Important Rules to Remember while Driving on Autobahn.
Does the Autobahn have more accidents than other highways?
It is more difficult to get a German driver’s license and somewhat cost prohibitive, meaning that more drivers have more knowledge about what it takes to drive safely. 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.
Is there an autobahn in the US?
For 49 of the 50 states you have highways with speed limits – so, technically the answer is yes, there are “autobahns” in the US – but only in Montana can you legally go similar speeds as you can go in Germany.