de-restricted autobahns on way to the Ring ?
Discussion
usually, if you can't see a speed limit sign, it's derestricted
they have signs every couple of hundred metres on restricted sections
there's a 'recommended' 130kmh limit. in theory, in an accident over that speed, your insurance can hold you partly responsible. max for most people would be about 200kmh (126?mph)
from Bonn, you have a little bit unrestricted on the 565, then the 61 down to the ring is all restricted
the 555 from bonn to cologne is a three lane unrestricted stretch, but it's usually busy
most of this area would be the same
they have signs every couple of hundred metres on restricted sections
there's a 'recommended' 130kmh limit. in theory, in an accident over that speed, your insurance can hold you partly responsible. max for most people would be about 200kmh (126?mph)
from Bonn, you have a little bit unrestricted on the 565, then the 61 down to the ring is all restricted
the 555 from bonn to cologne is a three lane unrestricted stretch, but it's usually busy
most of this area would be the same
You may need to be more concerned about where you can actually get out of first on the way there.
Just returned from the 'ring & there are several sets of roadworks on the E40/E42 in both directions where it's down to a single lane. On the bright side at least you fancypants in GT3's have a/c!
Just returned from the 'ring & there are several sets of roadworks on the E40/E42 in both directions where it's down to a single lane. On the bright side at least you fancypants in GT3's have a/c!
tried to find online a map of Germany someone once had, showing which autobahns were "unrestricted", but coming up empty.
Basically the sign you have to look for is a white circle (sometimes with a number inside, sometimes blank), with 3 gray diagonal lines through it. This means any speed limit up to the sign is void, until the next numbered limit sign (which is usually 130kph). The "unrestricted" signs are repeated after an on-ramp, to tell the cars joining the A-Bahn there is no limit.
Most of the unrestricted A-Bahns in western germany are really a farce - there is so much traffic and construction that any blasts over 200kph are very shortly followed followed by a BIG stab on the brakes. Very hard on the car and gets old after a few kms. About the only time you'll cruise for more than a few minutes at top speed is late night/early morning, Sunday's when trucks are banned from Autobahns (and don't fall a school holiday week!), or if you are traveling to or from Dresden, to my home in Görlitz on the Polish border, widely acknowledged as the last and best unrestricted autobahn. A bit curvey, so I wouldn't try to top out a Mac F1, but my record for the 100km trip is about 35 minutes, which includes slowing to 150 for the 4 or 5 130kph zones.
Just be careful - last year a friend almost died when a tiny car going 100kph inexplicably pulled into the left lane, forcing him to swerve left, flip over the divider, across the opposing lane, and into a field. Still in physical therapy to get back control of his right leg, which was saved only by a radical operation (7cm of the main control nerve in his thigh reconstructed from tripling up 21 cm of "feel" nerves from his left calf). He was going about 160kph at the time, so just think of that when you're topping 250....
have fun at the ring
Kurt
Basically the sign you have to look for is a white circle (sometimes with a number inside, sometimes blank), with 3 gray diagonal lines through it. This means any speed limit up to the sign is void, until the next numbered limit sign (which is usually 130kph). The "unrestricted" signs are repeated after an on-ramp, to tell the cars joining the A-Bahn there is no limit.
Most of the unrestricted A-Bahns in western germany are really a farce - there is so much traffic and construction that any blasts over 200kph are very shortly followed followed by a BIG stab on the brakes. Very hard on the car and gets old after a few kms. About the only time you'll cruise for more than a few minutes at top speed is late night/early morning, Sunday's when trucks are banned from Autobahns (and don't fall a school holiday week!), or if you are traveling to or from Dresden, to my home in Görlitz on the Polish border, widely acknowledged as the last and best unrestricted autobahn. A bit curvey, so I wouldn't try to top out a Mac F1, but my record for the 100km trip is about 35 minutes, which includes slowing to 150 for the 4 or 5 130kph zones.
Just be careful - last year a friend almost died when a tiny car going 100kph inexplicably pulled into the left lane, forcing him to swerve left, flip over the divider, across the opposing lane, and into a field. Still in physical therapy to get back control of his right leg, which was saved only by a radical operation (7cm of the main control nerve in his thigh reconstructed from tripling up 21 cm of "feel" nerves from his left calf). He was going about 160kph at the time, so just think of that when you're topping 250....
have fun at the ring
Kurt
glenn mcmenamin said:
Hi,
Going to the Ring next weekend, but staying in Bonn, i've never been sure how to tell what autobahns are de-restricted, or are they all de-restricted ??
And the ones you can speed on, is it really game on, whatever speed you like ???
Any guidence appreciated ??
There an autobahn about 10 miles south of the ring. There are some road works to the west (when I was there 6 weeks ago), so head towards the east instead.
Most traffic tends to stick around 100mph, but be very careful, when going faster as the speed differential can catch people unawares.
I've heard the police are very strict about enforcing the restricted sections, so take care.
Most traffic tends to stick around 100mph, but be very careful, when going faster as the speed differential can catch people unawares.
I've heard the police are very strict about enforcing the restricted sections, so take care.
Just been searching (unsuccessfully) in German for a map of unrestricted Autobahns, but I did find the German version of Pistonheads: www.speedheads.de 
www.speedheads.de/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=270
on that thread is a list of speedheads posters favourite autobahns
examples:
"4+4 Spuren.
Fahrbahnbelag naja"
this means 4+4 lanes
surface: ok (with that wiggling flat hand gesture
)
"kurzes Stück (2 km) 100 Beschränkung ansonsten freigegeben."
short bit (2km) with 100 limit, otherwise unrestricted
one of the few good bits in nordrhein westfalen (edit: just realised only the southern half is in NRW, the rest is in niedersachsen, not that it matters ) is the 31, from Bottrop north (from Bonn that would be up the 3 to Oberhausen)
good percentage is brand new, with new smooth surface, straight, very little traffic but only two lanes each way
>> Edited by hugoagogo on Sunday 3rd July 19:13
on that thread is a list of speedheads posters favourite autobahns
examples:
"4+4 Spuren.
Fahrbahnbelag naja"
this means 4+4 lanes
surface: ok (with that wiggling flat hand gesture
) "kurzes Stück (2 km) 100 Beschränkung ansonsten freigegeben."
short bit (2km) with 100 limit, otherwise unrestricted
one of the few good bits in nordrhein westfalen (edit: just realised only the southern half is in NRW, the rest is in niedersachsen, not that it matters
) is the 31, from Bottrop north (from Bonn that would be up the 3 to Oberhausen) good percentage is brand new, with new smooth surface, straight, very little traffic but only two lanes each way
>> Edited by hugoagogo on Sunday 3rd July 19:13
You really need at least three lanes for serious speeds.
If you use a two lane, even at night in light traffic there is a significant chance that someone in the inside lane might pull out to overtake a vehicle in front. If you are closing at 180+mph and they are doing 70mph, they will not be expecting you.
Even with three lanes, at very high speeds you have to watch the middle lane for traffic about a half-mile ahead and anticipate. At 180mph, that half-mile takes 6 seconds.
From my experience of driving on the autobahns at high speeds (180+), it is almost impossible to plan a high-speed run, what happens is that situations just occur sometimes that allow it i.e. empty roads, good conditions, no limits
61+A2 (the brussels/ genk / aachen route) has cameras on now. and watch out for cops on the entry roads off the autobahns(to the ring). also speed traps (vans) on the bridges etc. flashing speed limits apply and all are restricted around towns etc 120KPH. then white sign with three grey lines across += de restricted but with enforceable top end as mentioned below.
personally i go the south route now (E42 lille/liege) thru to top of 61.
speed limits apply, but theres no cops/cameras etc and the roads are mainly HUGE with good visibilty etc 120KPH top end limit but everyone does 160+ anyway.
AND you miss the brussels M25!!!
you can crack on that way.
have fun
andy
personally i go the south route now (E42 lille/liege) thru to top of 61.
speed limits apply, but theres no cops/cameras etc and the roads are mainly HUGE with good visibilty etc 120KPH top end limit but everyone does 160+ anyway.
AND you miss the brussels M25!!!
you can crack on that way.
have fun
andy
I find this really useful when planning to drive in Germany - helps me to pick the route with less speed restrictions and longest stretches without limits ;o)
www.autobahnatlas-online.de
In german but you can get the gist or translate online. here's two examples for the A4/A3 which I use if travelling to Frankfurt rather than the A61..
http://autobahnatlas-online.de/A3.htm
http://autobahnatlas-online.de/A4.htm
Basically, look at the road and the "-" means no speed limit, <120> means temprorary limit in KM and 120 means permanent limit. The numbers in blue are the distances in KM's between two points. Just map the place names to those on a map to get an idea of which stretches are un-restricted.....
www.autobahnatlas-online.de
In german but you can get the gist or translate online. here's two examples for the A4/A3 which I use if travelling to Frankfurt rather than the A61..
http://autobahnatlas-online.de/A3.htm
http://autobahnatlas-online.de/A4.htm
Basically, look at the road and the "-" means no speed limit, <120> means temprorary limit in KM and 120 means permanent limit. The numbers in blue are the distances in KM's between two points. Just map the place names to those on a map to get an idea of which stretches are un-restricted.....
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