The Autobahn - Myths and Facts
Now that the autobahn is nearing its 100th birthday, I thought I would expand on last post's brief survey results about speed limits and dedicate a full post to the world's fastest street network.
Although the autobahn was first brought to life in 1921, the street was meant as a toll road which could only be afforded by the wealthy and people with race cars. The word bahn itself translates as train, since people in Germany believed that the expression Autostraße didn't amply describe the project.
The Nazis took plenty of credit for expanding the autobahn network, as public autobahn routes (and without tolls, no less) were launched, primarily in the thickest metro regions of the Ruhr area, like Cologne to Bonn or later Cologne to Düsseldorf. The only stipulation was that the autobahn needed to have at least two lanes, which to this day qualifies a road to be an autobahn, as opposed to merely a Landstraße (country road) or a Bundesstraße (federal road). The only way an autobahn will not have two lanes today is whenever it happens to be under construction, which can be quite frequent. Construction projects vary, as they could be fixing certain stretches of the road, or - irony of ironies - adding lanes.
Although the autobahn for long tracts of its network has no speed limit, I found that there are plenty of speed limits the driver must observe, particularly in a dense, metropolitan region like Frankfurt. Construction projects, of course, will add plenty of speed limits of their own. The highest speed limit on certain roads is 130 km/h, or 80 mph. The lowest hovers around 60 km/h, which in itself is as fast as cars using inner-city streets. Speed limits will also occur within areas where the danger of noise pollution is particularly great, like more residential areas. I have never seen drivers get pulled over by German law enforcement, although there are plenty of cameras around to capture your ecstatic speeding smile. Usually, the driver receives a fine and a certain number of points, which, when accumulated, can jeopardize your driving status and eventually your license. Fact is, you will be fined for driving too slow on the autobahn.
What makes Germany's autobahns so popular are not only the relative lack of speed limits, but the fact that they are toll-free. Initiatives have been started (and dropped) to reduce speed limits and at least exact tolls from truck drivers, but without success. I can't imagine anybody who would lobby against such well-meaning proposals, can you? (hint: the all-powerful automobile maunfacturing industry in Germany)
To many, driving on the autobahn can be a daunting experience, if you're not used to it. German drivers exhibit a rare combination of skill, or speed and precision, so you need to mind your p's and q's at all times. The anarchy I've seen on so many streets in third world countries simply wouldn't fly in Germany. I suggest starting off slowly, learn from other drivers, and follow the traffic flow. If you are in the fast lane, it would be folly to remain there, especially if you have that 7 series BMW bearing down on you from behind. On a two-lane autobahn, you don't necessarily want to remain in the slow lane, either, since this is more the trucks' territory and can unnecessarily prolong your trip.
The one road most Germans look for is the white circle with the diagonal black lines running through it. This means no speed limit, and the driver can let her rip.
Contrary to popular belief, the mortal accident rate on the German autobahn is not as high as you would think. It is actually lower than certain countries with speed limits, like France, Belgium or Austria. In addition, the death rate is lower than slower country roads in the country, which is understandable, since the autobahn is not exactly built like the formula one circuit in Monte Carlo. Wildlife running into your vehicles are a common hazard on country roads, as are other vehicles.
Personally, I have found the autobahn experience to be relatively stress free, unlike some highways or freeways I've regularly driven on in the States (Los Angeles and Washington, come on down).
Though I personally prefer trains, an autobahn can be a pleasant experience once you have buckled up and found your streetlegs.
Although the autobahn was first brought to life in 1921, the street was meant as a toll road which could only be afforded by the wealthy and people with race cars. The word bahn itself translates as train, since people in Germany believed that the expression Autostraße didn't amply describe the project.
The Nazis took plenty of credit for expanding the autobahn network, as public autobahn routes (and without tolls, no less) were launched, primarily in the thickest metro regions of the Ruhr area, like Cologne to Bonn or later Cologne to Düsseldorf. The only stipulation was that the autobahn needed to have at least two lanes, which to this day qualifies a road to be an autobahn, as opposed to merely a Landstraße (country road) or a Bundesstraße (federal road). The only way an autobahn will not have two lanes today is whenever it happens to be under construction, which can be quite frequent. Construction projects vary, as they could be fixing certain stretches of the road, or - irony of ironies - adding lanes.
Although the autobahn for long tracts of its network has no speed limit, I found that there are plenty of speed limits the driver must observe, particularly in a dense, metropolitan region like Frankfurt. Construction projects, of course, will add plenty of speed limits of their own. The highest speed limit on certain roads is 130 km/h, or 80 mph. The lowest hovers around 60 km/h, which in itself is as fast as cars using inner-city streets. Speed limits will also occur within areas where the danger of noise pollution is particularly great, like more residential areas. I have never seen drivers get pulled over by German law enforcement, although there are plenty of cameras around to capture your ecstatic speeding smile. Usually, the driver receives a fine and a certain number of points, which, when accumulated, can jeopardize your driving status and eventually your license. Fact is, you will be fined for driving too slow on the autobahn.
What makes Germany's autobahns so popular are not only the relative lack of speed limits, but the fact that they are toll-free. Initiatives have been started (and dropped) to reduce speed limits and at least exact tolls from truck drivers, but without success. I can't imagine anybody who would lobby against such well-meaning proposals, can you? (hint: the all-powerful automobile maunfacturing industry in Germany)
To many, driving on the autobahn can be a daunting experience, if you're not used to it. German drivers exhibit a rare combination of skill, or speed and precision, so you need to mind your p's and q's at all times. The anarchy I've seen on so many streets in third world countries simply wouldn't fly in Germany. I suggest starting off slowly, learn from other drivers, and follow the traffic flow. If you are in the fast lane, it would be folly to remain there, especially if you have that 7 series BMW bearing down on you from behind. On a two-lane autobahn, you don't necessarily want to remain in the slow lane, either, since this is more the trucks' territory and can unnecessarily prolong your trip.
The one road most Germans look for is the white circle with the diagonal black lines running through it. This means no speed limit, and the driver can let her rip.
Contrary to popular belief, the mortal accident rate on the German autobahn is not as high as you would think. It is actually lower than certain countries with speed limits, like France, Belgium or Austria. In addition, the death rate is lower than slower country roads in the country, which is understandable, since the autobahn is not exactly built like the formula one circuit in Monte Carlo. Wildlife running into your vehicles are a common hazard on country roads, as are other vehicles.
Personally, I have found the autobahn experience to be relatively stress free, unlike some highways or freeways I've regularly driven on in the States (Los Angeles and Washington, come on down).
Though I personally prefer trains, an autobahn can be a pleasant experience once you have buckled up and found your streetlegs.
0 comments