RE: Merkel blocks autobahn speed limit
Discussion
PhantomPH said:
It also strikes me that just because people can go a million mph if they want to, not very many do. Would I be right in guessing that cruising speeds are between 80-90mph for the majority of traffic on the un-restricted sections?
My experience, over the decades and the tens of thousands ofmiles, is that Germans drive whatever they have flat out.
However, the latest numbers I have are from the German
traffic ministry from 1997 and includes all autobahn
traffic, such as lorries limited to 56 mph.
The average for 1997 seems to be about 80 mph.
The 85% percentile was 100 mph, which means that
15% of the traffic was doing over 100 mph in that year
;->
I have some other numbers for 1987. Using both
1987 and 1997 data to extrapolate to 2007, I estimate that
The average for 2007 is 85 mph
and the 85 percentile is 110 mph, which means
that 15% of the traffic is doing over 110 mph ;->
Bearing in mind these numbers include all vehicles,
it seems clear to me that the numbers match up
with my experience.
And before anyone says, death rates have been
falling at the same time as average speeds have
been increasing.
http://www.abd.org.uk/motorwayspeedlimit.htm
It's a serious business being a German politician,
and hats off to Frau Merkel for not letting
the latest eco-fashion get in the way of the facts.
Many UK politicians would do well to follow
her example.
In reply to :-
The problem we have here is that there are too many numpties who pay zero attention to what they are doing. If they don't see a marked up police car with full blues & twos on the go, how will they notice an M5 doing 150+?
After you have had a M5 at 150+ nearly park in your boot you treat the offside lane with RESPECT ! These people will drive at you . All cars seem to have these super white headlights that even during bright sublight are visible .
I have seen German cars going far faster than I have ever seen UK bib going.
But as someome said they do stick to the lane rules , they do overtake cleanly. Unless they realy moving 150+ then they dont seem to lane hog.
There are a lot of mk1 golfs that seem to be rocket powered , I just cannot belive they went that fast when first made .
The rules on some mways for trucks only in lane 1 are superb this really helps the flow of traffic ( well for the cars anyway ) .Knowing that you are not going to get 44 tonnes comming at you is a big de-stress.
As for more pollution , well the jams cause a lot more just take a look at the on board computer , mine drops down to 9 to 10 mpg after being stuck for 20 minutes , at 120 it reports 24 to 26 mpg.
The problem we have here is that there are too many numpties who pay zero attention to what they are doing. If they don't see a marked up police car with full blues & twos on the go, how will they notice an M5 doing 150+?
After you have had a M5 at 150+ nearly park in your boot you treat the offside lane with RESPECT ! These people will drive at you . All cars seem to have these super white headlights that even during bright sublight are visible .
I have seen German cars going far faster than I have ever seen UK bib going.
But as someome said they do stick to the lane rules , they do overtake cleanly. Unless they realy moving 150+ then they dont seem to lane hog.
There are a lot of mk1 golfs that seem to be rocket powered , I just cannot belive they went that fast when first made .
The rules on some mways for trucks only in lane 1 are superb this really helps the flow of traffic ( well for the cars anyway ) .Knowing that you are not going to get 44 tonnes comming at you is a big de-stress.
As for more pollution , well the jams cause a lot more just take a look at the on board computer , mine drops down to 9 to 10 mpg after being stuck for 20 minutes , at 120 it reports 24 to 26 mpg.
- **** On the autobahn before I get a ticket slapped on next post *****
We were over there recently and were sitting on 120 to 150mph quite nicely. No issues, problems or numpties. The only cars that passed us were and Audi RS6 and a 997 of some description (it went past too quick to see the badge!)
The roads are great, the way they are managed is great too.
As for learning German, I'm already heading in that direction! Great place (or @ least the south west of Germany is!)
The roads are great, the way they are managed is great too.
As for learning German, I'm already heading in that direction! Great place (or @ least the south west of Germany is!)
Have to agree with Dropthe clutch !
i was there working the other week i was not slow ...... 350z doing say 130mph
when what should pass me ........... yep you guessed a Bloody Audi A3 tdi what made it worse was he was getting twice as much as me to
the gallon, but to drive there is bliss so much more relaxing than here, i seldomley have a vectra up my bum when i am there
but here it is all the time ..... not literally i would like to point out
i was there working the other week i was not slow ...... 350z doing say 130mph
when what should pass me ........... yep you guessed a Bloody Audi A3 tdi what made it worse was he was getting twice as much as me to
the gallon, but to drive there is bliss so much more relaxing than here, i seldomley have a vectra up my bum when i am there
but here it is all the time ..... not literally i would like to point out
Hobbit123 said:
Once cars drive themselves of course, could be a different story 
You didn't see the saloon on TOP GEAR yesterday then, that can park itself?Not quite drive itself, but worryingly it's going that way.
Mind you, not a lot to panic about yet, Hamster tried it several times but it didn't work too well
derestrictor said:
Imagine political genius like this existing in this country? It could happen, we just need to find the politico with the requisite cojones to stand up against the green lie and by jove within 5 years, it's a 150 mph reality...Only lettuce and a bull headed refusal to build suitable uberhighways has prevented this over nearly four decades now and it is the fault, ironically, of another female politician, back when.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
After a long day at the keyboard I'm about to turn in. Reading some refreshing common sense from a politician has rounded the day off nicely.
A friend of mine who lived for years in Holland swears that the Germans and ourselves have an awful lot in common. Maybe more of us should look to Germany for relocation that the uber fashionable Tuscany?
Good on her anyway, she gets my vote for Euro President.
A friend of mine who lived for years in Holland swears that the Germans and ourselves have an awful lot in common. Maybe more of us should look to Germany for relocation that the uber fashionable Tuscany?
Good on her anyway, she gets my vote for Euro President.
Hobbit123 said:
The problem we have here is that there are too many numpties who pay zero attention to what they are doing. If they don't see a marked up police car with full blues & twos on the go, how will they notice an M5 doing 150+?
We will have to find a way to pick off the middle lane morons and teach lane discipline all over again. I don't see that happening anytime soon, when this government (and all the sheep) are totally focused on CO2 production and enviro-mentalism. Also, how much would the government lose in speeding fines alone?
It would be wonderful, but the cynic in me doubts it'll ever happen while humans are in charge of cars. Once cars drive themselves of course, could be a different story
Too damn right, just dont know quite how to make them do it though, I have actually seen people in the outside lane on a clear dual carriage way, one then indicates to get past after a while (french style!) eventually they move over and then move straight back into the outside lane! nightmare.We will have to find a way to pick off the middle lane morons and teach lane discipline all over again. I don't see that happening anytime soon, when this government (and all the sheep) are totally focused on CO2 production and enviro-mentalism. Also, how much would the government lose in speeding fines alone?
It would be wonderful, but the cynic in me doubts it'll ever happen while humans are in charge of cars. Once cars drive themselves of course, could be a different story
one of the problems is that the test does not even involve driving on the motorway and rarely involves driving much on the dual carriage way. maybe we aought to have reminder sessions.
Also the police should be much more inclined to pull people over for these offences and things like inappropriate use of fog lights etc. rather than just speeding.
I am reliably informed that back in the old days a bobby with a bit of common sense could tell the difference between good and bad drivers.
However, I have to say, getting busted by speed cameras is a bit silly anyway, I passed my test 5 years ago and have not had a run in with one yet in over 100,000 miles so just like police cars coming up behind you one should notice speed cameras in front of you.
I think the German Chancellor might have some other points to bear in mind over this speed limit issue. And that is that if Germany does go to speed limits, then that's it for the super powerful road cars as there will be no need to produce them. Pretty much the rest of the world has overall speed limits so any car that can do more than 150 kph is ... completely unnecessary.
And what cars will that effect? All the German top marques.
Now that would make a difference to the overall green house effect methinks.
Let's hope the Germans do stick out for no limits, but they are only backing their self interest.
And what cars will that effect? All the German top marques.
Now that would make a difference to the overall green house effect methinks.
Let's hope the Germans do stick out for no limits, but they are only backing their self interest.
TripleS said:
derestrictor said:
Imagine political genius like this existing in this country? It could happen, we just need to find the politico with the requisite cojones to stand up against the green lie and by jove within 5 years, it's a 150 mph reality...Only lettuce and a bull headed refusal to build suitable uberhighways has prevented this over nearly four decades now and it is the fault, ironically, of another female politician, back when.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
In Cumbria I use the A6 unless really pressed for time thanks to the local extorsion racket, who will no doubt be campaigning for a daft 50 limit on the stretch on reading this post
Diverted said:
A quick image search may have brought up an answer...
I don't know what car this is, but the car looks suitably rakish and coupe like, whilst Ms Merkel certainly looks comfortable and happy behind the wheel.
Maybe she is a closet petrol head after all?
That's what we need, unlike the previous transport minister that didn't even have a driving licence I don't know what car this is, but the car looks suitably rakish and coupe like, whilst Ms Merkel certainly looks comfortable and happy behind the wheel.
Maybe she is a closet petrol head after all?
AlexH said:
derestrictor said:
Imagine political genius like this existing in this country? It could happen, we just need to find the politico with the requisite cojones to stand up against the green lie and by jove within 5 years, it's a 150 mph reality...Only lettuce and a bull headed refusal to build suitable uberhighways has prevented this over nearly four decades now and it is the fault, ironically, of another female politician, back when.
Mr_C said:
Is there any truth in the fact that Adolf built the autobahn's to move his troops as quickly as possible, hence there being no speed limit?
Dont think so , thing back and the UK had no limits on the first motorways did they , but Adoplph did seem to have a Roman emire type idea in mind so he would need roads as the Romans did Mr_C said:
Is there any truth in the fact that Adolf built the autobahn's to move his troops as quickly as possible, hence there being no speed limit?
I was under the impression that he built the Autobahn's for obvious transport reasons but also to give the population a job to do as the country was still in recesion from WW1.Gassing Station | Motoring News | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff