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Is the American Autobahn next? How states are pushing highway speeds past the limit

I have the privilege of having to go to Germany every 3 months.
To make our roads like the Autobahn, there has to be a major overhaul in how our freeways are built. The Autobahn is thicker than our freeways, and has less damage (and smoother surface).

The biggest negative to turning our freeways into the Autobahn is not the construction, but getting the drivers taught how to drive properly. Left lane for passing only, use of turn indicator, driving in rain, etc...
 
75 is our max
 
I was on that road a couple years ago from Austin to San Antonio. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the sign for the first time. The locals said that stretch of road has more fatalities from animal strikes than anything else.
 
The autobahn also restricts trucks to use of the right lane only. This avoids the "rolling roadblocks" that are the daily common occurence on american freeways. This reason alone makes driving on the autobahn more enjoyable.
 
Having lived in Germany for a total of 6 years I spent a great deal of time on the Autobahns. The difference back then was their cars were built for it. Ours were not. Not sure if that has changed sufficiently yet.
 
Having driven the autobahn I can tell you this, Germans don't linger in the left lane. Being in the left lane and not passing is against the law, and it is strictly enforced. Actually it's enforced all over Europe on major highways. On the Autobahn, there are cameras on bridges that detect cars that are following too closely. Tickets are issued. The Germans have concluded that following too closely causes more accidents than speeding so that's the offense they monitor closely. Those Germans are way too logical for the folks here.
 
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Back in the 1970's I had many experiences of driving on the 'Bahn when two or more big German sedans would fly by me at well over 100mPH and just be normally driving, not racing. Even had a few times where the Polizei would be right behind them and not be having an issue with it as long as the drivers were being safe and controlled. More American cars would be pulled over because the drivers saw the "Bahn as a sort of raceway.
 
They also were strict about minding the speed limits in slow down areas outside of towns and in other built up areas. If the signs said to slow down to 80KM they meant it. You would see a little VW van on the side with the side door open and a cop standing next to the road waving a lighted wand meaning pull the hell over and get a ticket. They would sit you down in the van across a small table and show you the picture the camera took miles back, with your car, license tag, and your face all nice and clear along with the speed recorded. Very polite. Just pay up and go on. lol. Ask me how I know......
 
75 here and 80 in Utah. I can't drive 55. Would fall asleep from being board.
Colorado has a left lane law. It is not "slower traffic keep right". Here it is "keep right except to pass". Wish they would enforce it more though.
CA is the worst for 2 reasons. 1st is their split speed limit. 70 for cars. 55 for truck and car with trailers. That really added to the congestion.
2nd is once they get into the left lane they will never move over. Don't care if they are going 20 under with a 100 cars on their ***, they ain't moving.
 
danf_fl said:
I have the privilege of having to go to Germany every 3 months.
To make our roads like the Autobahn, there has to be a major overhaul in how our freeways are built. The Autobahn is thicker than our freeways, and has less damage (and smoother surface).

The biggest negative to turning our freeways into the Autobahn is not the construction, but getting the drivers taught how to drive properly. Left lane for passing only, use of turn indicator, driving in rain, etc...
Click to expand...

I totally agree with having drivers taught properly. On 3 lane highways here, you have tons of people just staying in the middle lane, others hogging the fast lane, and the slow lane mostly clear except for some cars that really are going slow (and belong there). It still adds up to essentially gridlock at the speed of the drivers in the middle lane. Frustrating as hell, so then you get the pissed off people driving like mad and swinging through all lanes like they are in a video game. Just not safe. I bet there would be FEWER accidents if we could remove the speed limit but magically make all the drivers use German Autobahn rules.
 
Posted speed limit on I-95 and I-16 in Georgia is 70 mph.

Typical here:
Left lane Bubbas? Yup
Slow left lane Bubbas? Yup
Tailgating? Yup
Speeders? Yup
Super speeders? Yup
Weaving? Yup
Debris in the roadway? Yup
Debris on the shoulders? Yup
One operable headlight? Yup
One operable tail light? Yup
Inoperable trailer tail lights? Yup
Inoperable trailer brake lights? Yup
Slow down in the rain? Nope
Slow down in cloud bursts? Nope
Slow down in fog? Nope
Slow down in heavy fog? Nope

It's surprising that the wrecks and carnage on the interstate highways aren't more frequent and worse. The real carnage occurs on our poorly marked and poorly maintained two lane roads posted at 55 mph. The poor driving skills/habits mentioned earlier in combination with the effects of a head-on collision or striking an immovable, stationary object (e.g. trees) is pretty much a guarantee of death, either instant death or death after lingering pain and suffering.

That reminds me, I need to use my dashcam more often.
 
I got my first ever USA speeding ticket while driving back from Port of Charleston in my new 1985 Audi 5000 sedan. I shipped it home when I left Germany. I was doing over 100mph in a 55mph on the interstate in Lee County South Carolina. The trooper saw the Euro plates on the car and deduced that I had just picked it up. He reminded me that " This here aint Germany sir, you have to drive the speed limit." I said I had been driving the Autobahn's for so long it felt slow to me. He was not sympathetic.
 
There, I fixed it.

"The difference is their drivers are built for it. Ours are not."

But some things just can't be "taught".

Sorry, little venting.
Friday night I was in the second crash that was not my fault.
Only punching it to get out of the way saved my 73 from worse damage.
 
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moparmarks said:
75 here and 80 in Utah. I can't drive 55. Would fall asleep from being board.
Colorado has a left lane law. It is not "slower traffic keep right". Here it is "keep right except to pass". Wish they would enforce it more though.
CA is the worst for 2 reasons. 1st is their split speed limit. 70 for cars. 55 for truck and car with trailers. That really added to the congestion.
2nd is once they get into the left lane they will never move over. Don't care if they are going 20 under with a 100 cars on their ***, they ain't moving.
Click to expand...
Aren't there any shoulders open? That's how they do it in Chicago & they use the shoulders on both sides of the highway. However, I've started seeing State Troopers on the highways the last few years, so maybe doing this a little less than before. Honestly, 10 yrs. ago you NEVER saw a cop of any type on the interstates going through the city & the speed limit was unlimited practically.....100mph+ every day (when the traffic wasn't too bad)
 
I year and a half ago, I got pulled over in the Hellcat Challenger doing 98 in a 45 & got off with a warning. I got real lucky.
 
DeltaV said:
Posted speed limit on I-95 and I-16 in Georgia is 70 mph.

Typical here:
Left lane Bubbas? Yup
Slow left lane Bubbas? Yup
Tailgating? Yup
Speeders? Yup
Super speeders? Yup
Weaving? Yup
Debris in the roadway? Yup
Debris on the shoulders? Yup
One operable headlight? Yup
One operable tail light? Yup
Inoperable trailer tail lights? Yup
Inoperable trailer brake lights? Yup
Slow down in the rain? Nope
Slow down in cloud bursts? Nope
Slow down in fog? Nope
Slow down in heavy fog? Nope

It's surprising that the wrecks and carnage on the interstate highways aren't more frequent and worse. The real carnage occurs on our poorly marked and poorly maintained two lane roads posted at 55 mph. The poor driving skills/habits mentioned earlier in combination with the effects of a head-on collision or striking an immovable, stationary object (e.g. trees) is pretty much a guarantee of death, either instant death or death after lingering pain and suffering.

That reminds me, I need to use my dashcam more often.
Click to expand...

That about sums it up for FL driving also! They will do 50 mph in the left lane! Then need to get off the highway and since everyone is passing them can't get over so what do they freaking do ! Stop ! Yup stop right on the highway to get over to the off ramp!
 
Speed limits here are 70 mph, not bad but I'd be happier at 80 mph although going any higher with the idiots on the roads would get sketchy. Winter driving is bad enough as is, it's like people completely forget how to drive in the snow over the summer, first good snow cars are everywhere!
 
We have suggested posted speed limits just don't get caught doing better than 10 over. Whom every thinks our old Mopars were not built for speed are just plain silly.
 
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