European Speed Limits
Discussion
In these days of European harmonization should all countries speed limits be equal 
Here in Hungary the motorway speed limit has recently been raised to 130kmh (81mph) 'in line with Europe', and this is prior to Hungary joining the EU. Should UK limits be in line with other countries????
Here in Hungary the motorway speed limit has recently been raised to 130kmh (81mph) 'in line with Europe', and this is prior to Hungary joining the EU. Should UK limits be in line with other countries????quote:
Yes, Germany definitely!
Be careful. Most German 'Autobahnen' do have speed limits. Some of them are advisory, but most are mandatory. I believe (although feel free to correct me) that German insurance is only valid up to 130kph. If they can prove you were going faster, they don't pay up!!
Sparks
quote:
quote:
Yes, Germany definitely!
Be careful. Most German 'Autobahnen' do have speed limits. Some of them are advisory, but most are mandatory. I believe (although feel free to correct me) that German insurance is only valid up to 130kph. If they can prove you were going faster, they don't pay up!!
Sparks
there is no blanket speed limit on german motorways. In reality though, due to roadworks and/or because the motorway goes through states run by letwing governments, a lot of motorway miles have speed limits.
Theres still enough left, though
I once took the limiter out of my A8 and did 100 km in 23 mins. on a german motorway at 4 am on a fine summers day.
as for insurance - that would be news for me. Having said that - there have been some lunatic court rulings of late.
Rgds, WalterU
Rgds, WalterU
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Out of interest, what's the accident rate like on the Autobahns?
Are they now making speed limits mandatory beacuse it is unacceptably high or just to fit in with the rest of the European scene?
no no, speed limits are only there when necessary (roadworks, tight bends, motorway merging etc. etc.), or for political reasons. A lot of the states where the greens are in government have 130 km/h speed limits. But generally, there are no speed limits on german motorways.
The accident rate on the autobahns is the lowest of the whole road network. The highest accident rate is in towns at speeds below 30 mph (50 km/h).
Rgds, WalterU
Bridgy x
Try the German auto club the ADAC @ http.//www.adac.de or the various German Government sites, Look under BAB (BundesAutoBahnen)
PS the accident stats are the lowest IN THE WORLD on german Autobahns, but when they crunch then they do it properly! Last bigone was 100+ cars on the A9 Nürnberg-München in fog the idiots!
PPS All german Autobahns have a recommended speed limit of 130kph some have a mandatory. The difference is the recommended speed is a square blue sign with a white 130 in it. A minimum speed is a round sign with a white speed in it (on some hills and outside lanes). a mandatory speed is as UK speed limit sign.
NO insurace cancelled if you're faster, who told that fairy tale? There was a case where someone rear-ended a numpty who pulled off the slip-road stright into the outside lane (crossing through trucks) and the rear-ender got done for partial responsability. But thats all.....
Edited by JMGS4 on Tuesday 11th December 15:11
Try the German auto club the ADAC @ http.//www.adac.de or the various German Government sites, Look under BAB (BundesAutoBahnen)
PS the accident stats are the lowest IN THE WORLD on german Autobahns, but when they crunch then they do it properly! Last bigone was 100+ cars on the A9 Nürnberg-München in fog the idiots!
PPS All german Autobahns have a recommended speed limit of 130kph some have a mandatory. The difference is the recommended speed is a square blue sign with a white 130 in it. A minimum speed is a round sign with a white speed in it (on some hills and outside lanes). a mandatory speed is as UK speed limit sign.
NO insurace cancelled if you're faster, who told that fairy tale? There was a case where someone rear-ended a numpty who pulled off the slip-road stright into the outside lane (crossing through trucks) and the rear-ender got done for partial responsability. But thats all.....
Edited by JMGS4 on Tuesday 11th December 15:11
I've always wondered why they dont post the minimum speed limit (40) on the motorways here. They do it in Germany (it seems) and they do it in the USA but why not here?
Especially being that I was stuck behind Doris and Arthur in their B-Reg Maestro (complete with obligatory Rex Harrision hat, driver, not the car) waiting to get off the M4, doing 20mph over the weekend.
Matt.
Especially being that I was stuck behind Doris and Arthur in their B-Reg Maestro (complete with obligatory Rex Harrision hat, driver, not the car) waiting to get off the M4, doing 20mph over the weekend.
Matt.
quote:
I've always wondered why they dont post the minimum speed limit (40) on the motorways here. They do it in Germany (it seems) and they do it in the USA but why not here?
Especially being that I was stuck behind Doris and Arthur in their B-Reg Maestro (complete with obligatory Rex Harrision hat, driver, not the car) waiting to get off the M4, doing 20mph over the weekend.
Matt.
They'd get pulled for that, had a traffic cop seen 'em. Too right. Bring in penalties for "slowsters". IF you can't do 85% of the speed limit, you should be punished the same amount as people who do 15% over the limit.
Fairs fair, after all... and it's only morons going too slow, that force us to go FASTER in order to make up the lost time.
Honest. I also wonder if conversations between these people at Derby and Joan clubs go something along the lines of:
Fogey One: 'Mate, I was caught doing 15mph on the M1 last night, b@stard traffic cop was really rude I had to cover poor Maudes ears. I am thinking of going through that new flangled court system and presenting my case, after all, I was moving and its difficult to go fast with athritis, poor sight and Alzheimers'
Fogey Two: 'I reckon we should go out and put enormous magnifying glasses on all these cameras to catch people doing more than half the speed limit that would be well 'ard'
Fogey One: 'Wikkid'
Compulsory yearly driving tests for all over 65 I say.
Matt.
Fogey One: 'Mate, I was caught doing 15mph on the M1 last night, b@stard traffic cop was really rude I had to cover poor Maudes ears. I am thinking of going through that new flangled court system and presenting my case, after all, I was moving and its difficult to go fast with athritis, poor sight and Alzheimers'
Fogey Two: 'I reckon we should go out and put enormous magnifying glasses on all these cameras to catch people doing more than half the speed limit that would be well 'ard'
Fogey One: 'Wikkid'
Compulsory yearly driving tests for all over 65 I say.
Matt.
The speed is not restricted on German autobahns and that might be a reason why they are in such a poor condition...I prefer to be afraid of being caught by a radar on a perfectly surfaced French motorway than risking my life between a merc and a 5-series on a German fast lane. Worst of all the right lane is stuffed with endless miles of lorries
Thom What autobahn? OK the A5, but I do the A7 Lindau-Feuchtwangen and usually manage to average (!) 200kph!!!
Problem with the most german Autobahns is that they only have 2 lanes and thus with the numpties doing 101,65kph and the trucks doing 100,9kph it does tend to jam up......................
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no no, speed limits are only there when necessary (roadworks, tight bends, motorway merging etc. etc.), or for political reasons.
Hmmm. At 160mph+, even straight roads have deceptive bends.. and mid-corner bumps. Grrrrrrrr. Don't think UK roads are built to high enough quality to merit total derestriction.. actually I don't think our roads are really suitable for more than about 120mph, but atleast that would be more inline with what the average family saloon is capable of !!
Wound my father's M5 up to the limit on the A7. Perfectly clear day and very little traffic but I bottled it and only maintained top speed very briefly (speedo (over?)reading 165ish mph) before reducing my speed to 130. Why? Because the realisation hit me that before taking the Elan trackside I'd check _everything_, wear a helmet and nomex and if I did screw up or the car broke someone would try to rescue me.
I'm with hertsbiker on this one, 120mph seems about right anything more is an unnecessary risk on the public roads, anything less than 100 seems ludicrous given that our baby Seat will top this easily...
I'm with hertsbiker on this one, 120mph seems about right anything more is an unnecessary risk on the public roads, anything less than 100 seems ludicrous given that our baby Seat will top this easily...
Do this stretch regularly and cruise at around 260kph. Have done speeds somewhat near 310kph for short distances (empty road), but it gets a bit frightening when the nuimpties are on the road at the same time. I've had the dreaded Merc 190 diesel thinking "oh well its ONLY an Audi A4, he can't be going fast" (when I've been approaching at 250+kph!). That's when one sees if one's reactions are still what they should be!
My best avearge for Lindau-Feuchtwangen was 57 minutes (including the 12km no motorway stretch).................. Gasblaster!!!
My best avearge for Lindau-Feuchtwangen was 57 minutes (including the 12km no motorway stretch)..................
Gasblaster!!!s2ooz
Frech motorways 130kph and 110 in the rain obligatory, main roads 90 or lower, some dualcarrieageways higher. NO points on GB license as is not yet EU law but they want to push this through. They may seize your vehicle if you're too far over the limit so I'd suggest getting a swing-away numberplate on the 'bike... Put a hinge at the top and then speed makes it fly out horizontally and it can't be read by gatsos!!
Anyone help with Spain?
Frech motorways 130kph and 110 in the rain obligatory, main roads 90 or lower, some dualcarrieageways higher. NO points on GB license as is not yet EU law but they want to push this through. They may seize your vehicle if you're too far over the limit so I'd suggest getting a swing-away numberplate on the 'bike... Put a hinge at the top and then speed makes it fly out horizontally and it can't be read by gatsos!!
Anyone help with Spain?
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