RE: PH Blog: What makes the autobahn brilliant

[ArmaghMan]

PaulMoor said:

Riggers said:

In short, you simply don't get some sanctimonious [expletive deleted] crawling past somebody in the outside lane at 70.5mph and refusing to move over because 'they're doing more than the speed limit anyway so I don't see why anybody should want to go any faster'. And if that makes me sound like the sort of chap who sits two inches from the car in front, then I don't intend it to - it's just ruddy irritating when you want to make progress.

Realy not helping the argument with this. The amount of time I get some impatiant t****r hammering up behind trying to bully me out of the way because I'm doing 70 going past two lorrys in lane 1 and 2. Why should someone not be aloud in to lane 3 because they stick to the speedlimit? Its not about being sanctimonious, it's about having every legal right to be there. I have no sympathy for people who sit in a lane and don't pull over, but complaining about people wanting to overtake someone doing under the speedlimit? That is what motorways are for.

Autobahns are far from perfect and just as full of t**ts from the lorrys who change lane with no warning to the idiots in big cars who will drive 2" from your bumper because you are doing under 120 going past a line of lorrys.

Edited by PaulMoor on Thursday 3rd May 11:25

Personally, I would ban, from the outside lane, anyone who does'nt know the difference between aloud and allowed.

[Chas-Chiro]

thewheelman said:

120mph on U.K. roads......wow, very clever.....I hope you get the ban you deserve.

This statement is exactly why we can't legally do 120mph on UK motorways, even though that is their design speed. Someone always gets upset and has to phone the hotline to report someone.

Whatever happened to driving to the conditions of the road rather than a set of rules made by people who are long gone? The rules were to make it safer for all when cars were definitely less capable as a whole. It didn't mean you will not get punished for 70mph if the conditions were not suitable just because you are within the posted speed limit.

You're no better than a camera and why this country is going to the dogs. No common sense, no self thought or judgement allowed.

[AndyBrew]

I drove on the German autobahns last week as part of a euro road trip and felt liberated by the experience, the standard of driving was by and large far better than on UK motorways, and cruising past a police car at 130mph felt a bit weird but strangely satisfying

[dcb]

ringweekends said:

I'll consistently tell anyone who'll listen, you can cover distance by car in Europe in a way you never can in the UK.

Far better driving standards and faster speeds helps.

Average speeds on the autobahn are about 95 mph and
increase by 1-2mph every year.

Time is money, and the Continentals do it so much
better than the UK.

ringweekends said:

As soon as you hit the M20 from your channel crossing home you're instantly reminded how crap our roads really are in comparison.

M20 as a road seems fine to me, it's the idiots that use
it that make it so painful.

[f131dy]

I moved to (East) Germany a couple of years ago and since then have commuted 120km every day to, and from work on the A4 (ca. 150 miles round trip). My trip is comprised of 30-40 minutes of almost entirely unrestricted autobahn with 10mins on each side of town/city driving.

Good:
- Obvious point... no Limit: I can do a journey in under an hour which would take 2 hours in England. Due to the fact you know you can go as fast as you want on the autobahn it's easy to make up for lost time in any traffic.
- People are more obedient and pull over when there's a faster car / check their mirrors etc.
- When there's roadworks they don't close the entire road, they'll just have a 80kmh limit imposed and shift traffic over the hard shoulder/squeeze 4 lanes onto one side of the road (2 each way) -> this can lead to some "breathe in" moments when passing lorries!
- Roadworks leads me to my next point: No average speed camera's so you look at what you're doing instead of your speedo.
- Tailgating/proximity cameras, to my knowledge there's a few on the A9 north of Munich.

Bad:
- Speed camera's are hidden, and hidden well. Unmarked vans/cameras hidden in a bush/behind a roadwork cone etc... On the other hand this can be seen as good, because it ensures drivers go the speed they are supposed to through roadworks. If you can't see them don't assume they aren't there -> no-one speeds.
- I use a s**t ton of fuel, fortunately its all tax deductible and also deductible from my income.

Ugly:
- Accidents are done properly. I mean, if they have one it'll be horrific due to the speed difference between Lorries 100kmh and Commuters 180kmh+. I'm sure something like 80% of the time accidents involve a Lorries. On many occasions I've seen a few close calls where a middle lane driver pulls into the fast lane due to a lorry pulling out in front of him, a bit like a domino effect.

Just a thought: In Germany almost everyone is on a time-card at work -> stamp in, stamp out, so it doesn't matter if you are 5, 10 minutes 1 hour late. I think this probably helps towards the attitude people have when commuting?

[Perd Hapley]

For the people asking why we don't have motorway driving on the driving test, it's because huge chunks of the country aren't near motorways.

[anonymous-user]

Yes, there possibly would be more headcases with Saxos etc in Britain, but part of that may be down to the UK having a more "them and us" society in the first place. Generally, if authorities treat people like idiots, they'll usually live down to expectations.

[Jacobyte]

f131dy said:

<snip>

Almost 4 years for your first post, good effort!

[benzito]

AndyBrew said:

I drove on the German autobahns last week as part of a euro road trip and felt liberated by the experience, the standard of driving was by and large far better than on UK motorways, and cruising past a police car at 130mph felt a bit weird but strangely satisfying

I would love to go past a police car at those speeds, I bet you still considered hitting the brakes for a split second

[Funkycoldribena]

AndyBrew said:

I drove on the German autobahns last week as part of a euro road trip and felt liberated by the experience, the standard of driving was by and large far better than on UK motorways, and cruising past a police car at 130mph felt a bit weird but strangely satisfying

How are you still alive??? I thought speed kills?

[thewheelman]

Chas-Chiro said:

thewheelman said:

120mph on U.K. roads......wow, very clever.....I hope you get the ban you deserve.

This statement is exactly why we can't legally do 120mph on UK motorways, even though that is their design speed. Someone always gets upset and has to phone the hotline to report someone.

Whatever happened to driving to the conditions of the road rather than a set of rules made by people who are long gone? The rules were to make it safer for all when cars were definitely less capable as a whole. It didn't mean you will not get punished for 70mph if the conditions were not suitable just because you are within the posted speed limit.

You're no better than a camera and why this country is going to the dogs. No common sense, no self thought or judgement allowed.

I think you'll find it's people such as yourself as to why this country is on its arse. I can't stand idiots that think it alright for them to break the law, what's so special about you, that you think you should get away with speeding, while the rest of us stick within the law & use common sense.

Firstly, have a check with the Highways agency about your theory that are roads are built for speeds of 120mph.

Secondly, maybe learn to read before you post. At no point did i say i was going to report him, i made that point very clear.

Damn.......Your kind are really dragging PH down.

[torres del paine]

thewheelman said:

I think you'll find it's people such as yourself as to why this country is on its arse. I can't stand idiots that think it alright for them to break the law, what's so special about you, that you think you should get away with speeding, while the rest of us stick within the law & use common sense.

Firstly, have a check with the Highways agency about your theory that are roads are built for speeds of 120mph.

Secondly, maybe learn to read before you post. At no point did i say i was going to report him, i made that point very clear.

Damn.......Your kind are really dragging PH down.

They've got you over a barrel, like everyone else and it has made driving in this country a thoroughly depressing experience.

The network of non-urban roads, the hype-ridden laws that govern them and the constant haranguing from various quarters has turned pretty much every motorist into you... it's not your fault but it's a bit limp-wristed all the same.

120mph is entirely possible... not so long ago on a fine early morning with light traffic, I drove a substantial portion of the M40 at 120-130 for mile after mile. I was courteous, watchful but relaxed, and so it seemed was everyone else. Driving on the left if not overtaking made this possible. The right time and place and everyone is happy.

Sadly, it's not like that most of the time. The average British motorist has turned into a quivering wreck on our faster roads and wish to inflict the same on me - blocking me for no good reason, driving slowly but dangerously and generally acting like a dithering, pedantic fool.

I get a strong sense of relief when I leave our shores and get to drive to Austria via Germany.

Edited by torres del paine on Friday 4th May 06:03

[predding]

Blue62 said:

The older I get the more envious I become of Garmany, they really do seem to have it sorted in so many ways. I know it's not perfect, but there's a lot to be said for the place, especially in comparison with the UK. Sigh.

+1 - Just moved here in March and its a breath of fresh air though I agree not perfect. They do tend to have a superior attitude on the autobahn - all directly relevant to the size/type of car you drive (the diff between driving our Polo and 635d is tangible).

Autobahns etiquette is pretty well clear - use yr mirror and allow plenty of space if overtaking esp on 2-lanes but some ppl drive too fast for the situation ie barrelling up to a clear chunk of traffic passing trucks at over 150mph then slammin all on - what you gonna do - drive through 'em?

I also wonder how often they fill up/who pays the fuel in some of the cars blasting past...

Main benefit I would say is the autobahns are free - otherwise the French autoroutes have it better IMHO as you arent gonna get some nutter taking you out at 150-180mph as you are in process of overtaking a line of trucks. And when they have shunts they are big, as I witnessed on way back from Switzerland in showery conditions - 4 cars with their front ends wiped completely off.

Must be getting old - life preservation seems to be creeping in...:-)

[predding]

ringweekends said:

As soon as you hit the M20 from your channel crossing home you're instantly reminded how crap our roads really are in comparison.

+100 that concrete surface is atrocious and the subsidence is dangerous - in France they would reduce the speed limit for that section - as implied adter weeks in Europe the M20 is a disgrace and the first thing to remind you you are back home. Its just rubbish. Ironically I think the outbound (to Folkestone) section is smoother - maybe there is a mesaage there - easier to leave the UK than return?

[CedricN]

Autobahn are a good place, the dicipline is really cmofortable when you come frome a land that doesnt have it. In sweden we are crap at lane dicipline, middle lane is often the slowest lane.

BUT..On our euro trips and ring trips that we have had I still have a higher average speed in sweden, despite 110/120 km/h limits. Those constructions works are just mad on the autobahn. Do they ever have the chance to actually drive on their roads? They seem to always be under repair, with massive traffic jams or slow downs as a results.

[Guybrush]

Chas-Chiro said:

thewheelman said:

120mph on U.K. roads......wow, very clever.....I hope you get the ban you deserve.

This statement is exactly why we can't legally do 120mph on UK motorways, even though that is their design speed. Someone always gets upset and has to phone the hotline to report someone.

Whatever happened to driving to the conditions of the road rather than a set of rules made by people who are long gone? The rules were to make it safer for all when cars were definitely less capable as a whole. It didn't mean you will not get punished for 70mph if the conditions were not suitable just because you are within the posted speed limit.

You're no better than a camera and why this country is going to the dogs. No common sense, no self thought or judgement allowed.

Totally agree. To get upset just because of a number, irrespective of conditions is simply unthinking, kneejerk and really plain stupid.

[Guybrush]

tommy1973s said:

Yes, there possibly would be more headcases with Saxos etc in Britain, but part of that may be down to the UK having a more "them and us" society in the first place. Generally, if authorities treat people like idiots, they'll usually live down to expectations.

Yes, the locals living in (for example) the Isle of Man don't go crazy just because they have no limits parts of their road system - it's all about being used to having no limits. Very restricted and controlled roads like ours lead to very pent up drivers and any derestriction may lead a few to go a bit ape, but that would soon calm down, but not before the media tracked down and over-analysed every single accident on every corner of the country in case it was "related to speed".

[German]

Riggers said:

German said:

Its worth a look, the manpower is driving salaries up, and its seen as a serious problem here...they need 80,000 more tomorrow, and even including the people studying they cant see a way of fixing it....the deficit gets bigger every year. Lots of companies are paying for German lessons + moving costs, so at the moment lots of Greek and Spanish blokes are turning up for some reason

Any idea if there's a deficit in the motoring journalism profession??? Suspect learning German on the job might not be possible in my case, sadly!

(If I could write articles that repeatedly ask where the station or the youth hostel are, or possibly telling people how old I am, I'm sure I'd be quids in )

Haha, I'm not sure...they definitely need some help in that area mind, most of the larger magazines/tv shows are really dull. Maybe come over and show them how its done

And all you need to know is how to order beer, its much easier to communicate after the first 5 litres

[MC Bodge]

Those that think that '120mph is dangerous', 'must be banned' etc. miss the point.

On a quiet road with light traffic in a well-maintained, modern car, 120mph is not a problem. Anybody who thinks it is has presumably never tried it. The speed itself is quite underwhelming.

I enjoy getting a move on (relatively, in a diesel estate) and covering large distances quickly on the Autobahn. As above, it is a liberating experience to be able to do so without worrying about being punished.

Tail-gating at "up to 120mph" and driving in an aggressive, intimidatory manner to prove a point is an issue, however and it is such dangerous behaviour that leads to more restrictions on our roads, rather than driving at speed per se.

[VictorMeldrew]

Baryonyx said:

If only we could import German culture and economic policy to this country and get rid of our useless Conservative led nanny state.

In the interest of political balance, that nanny state was of course largely assembled by the previous government, at our vast expense, and the tories are busy trying to dismantle it. Hence the contiuous bleating and whining of the public sector over job losses, pay freezes and pay cuts.

Back on topic, I was astounded the other day when, after overtaking a car I had been stuck behind for several miles, which had rabidly adhered to the speed limits, I checked my mirror to find the overtaken vehicle now steaming up my arse (so now its OK to speed eh?) and the driver applauding in a sarcastic fashion, both hands off the wheel. WTF?

Edited by VictorMeldrew on Friday 4th May 08:57