German speed limits

[supermono]

Last time (admittedly like 5+ years ago) I drove here they had clear 130/"nsl type" signs taking you out of derestrcted sections.

Now it looks like there's plenty of the 130 signs but not so many derestricted signs. My satnav seems to know but it's a bit disconcerting I don't want to be written up for 300 in a 130!

What are the rules now?

SM

[r1flyguy1]

I stand to be corrected, but stick to the limits until the next gantry sign speed limit lights are off and everyone is going quicker than you

[hornbaek]

Restrictions are shown expressively where there are speed limits (white sign, black letters and red circle). 130 km/h is the norm. Where it is unrestricted you will see either nothing or a white letter on blue background which is a suggested speed. (Normally 130 km/h). Pay attention at roadworks as there are many radars and unmarked police cars and more importantly than keeping to the speed limit is not to drive too close to the one in front - observe the distance markers painted on the road or otherwise use the rule of thumb "half the speed shown on the speedo (in km) in distance to the car in front". As opposed to the UK you actually don't need to force the car in front of you to move into the slower lane to let you pass.

[supermono]

Totally agree about the courtesy of drivers but that's the difference between euro mentality and the british lane hogging disease (that seems to get worse the more lanes we get)

I was mercilessly cut up by an aygo yesterday though, seemed to make a point of slowing me down whilst easing past something, reminded me of being home. Until it moved left after passing.

Thanks for the useful advice so far but I have to say I'm still somewhat unsure about the exact moment I'm out of limit.

SM

[TB993tt]

supermono said:

Thanks for the useful advice so far but I have to say I'm still somewhat unsure about the exact moment I'm out of limit.

SM

I know exactly what you mean and the confusion seems worse with the damn gantry limits....
I was over there last week driving south on the A61, the gantries kept flashing up 120 or 130 then the next one would be blank then the next one 120, a bit disconcerting when I was heading toward 300 in between !
Sometimes even the permanent 100/120 signs around junctions do not "end" with a derestricted sign so you have to "guess" when you are back in derestricted zone/

I feel that unlike in UK where if you get caught at 150mph you are worse than a child molester in Germany the Police know that 250kph is just another number which may be legal 500 metres up the road so the offence is not so great. In posted 130 gantry limits there were plenty of normal cars doing 160kph past marked Police cars who didn't seem to care at all.

I managed 335kph (speedo) on a nice empty stretch of the A7 - I love Germany