Here’s Why Germany Must Not Abandon The Derestricted Autobahn
Earlier this week we learned of an official report suggesting the German government could bring an end to derestricted Autobahns in order to cut emissions. All EU governments are bound by carbon reduction targets set out in law with huge fines for failing to meet them. Make no mistake; this suggestion will be taken seriously.
Motorways without speed limits are as German as currywurst. It’s hard to picture a Germany where they were no longer a fact of life. Their presence is a statement that the German driver knows what he or she is doing. It’s an implicit ‘we’ve got this,’ thanks to excellent training and a very German ability to maintain focus and control.
While British society is divided over EU membership, German society splits 51/47 over Autobahn speed limit #Europedivided https://t.co/7lzDXj3zEb
— Josef Janning (@JJ52) January 25, 2019
The times are a’changing, though, and faster than ever. The last 20 years have probably seen greater societal change than the previous 50. Crucially, people are changing as quickly as the times.
The German youth is changing too, in its own fashion. Backed by younger, safety-minded people Germany could, very feasibly, decide to call time on the derestricted Autobahn. Der Spiegel reports 51 per cent of nationals are in favour of a universal limit.
The idea of a public road where you can hit 200mph could be seen, in a Europe where safety has become an excuse to put a stop anything that could be considered even remotely dangerous, as an outrageous anachronism. From some points of view it’s a miracle that any sections of free-and-easy Autobahn still survive at all.
If you can’t play football in the road without the people at number 59 calling the police, how on earth can you legally pass a truck with a speed differential of 150mph? There’s also a lot more traffic than ever, and more danger of hitting another car in a speed-related whoopsie. These are the sorts of arguments a modern Germany might offer. The token reduction of emissions – not many people actually drive flat-out because of the horrendous fuel economy implications – is really just a sweetener to a deal that, as the Fun Police seem to close in on every side, seems in some ways inevitable.
But it shouldn’t be. We would beg the German government, if we thought they’d even notice, to keep the continent’s last bastion of skills-centric high-speed driving intact. It’s a place where you can choose to drive at the proposed 130kph limit if you want to. It’s also a place where you can creep over that without fear of a hefty fine. Then, when your mind is in the zone, you can chase your 155mph limiter and feel very much alive for a minute or two.
The Germans have always treated this not inconsiderable responsibility with great respect. Through 30kph (19mph) zones they stick to the limit like glue. Where signs urge caution, the average German driver makes safety their priority. They earn their right to limit-free highways by behaving impeccably everywhere else. We get that. We admire it, even if our traditional British impatience means we can’t always emulate it.
Germany deserves its derestricted motorways. Just as much as the desire for independence from authority is part of the British persona, the German urge to focus and stay within the lines is an almost tangible part of the national identity. And that’s a good thing to know when a Ferrari passes you at the top of seventh.
Comments
You guys should be thankful. Our highways full of potholes and undulations the fastest we could go is 120kmh. Smh Indonesia…
The token reduction of emissions – not many people actually drive flat-out because of the horrendous fuel economy implications – is really just a sweetener to a deal that, as the Fun Police seem to close in on every side, seems in some ways inevitable.
The reduced emissions currently are the main argument speaking for the speed limit. Statistics have shown times and times that introducing a universal speed limit has an neglectible effect on the number of fatal road accidents, but the lower emissions are a valid argument that I even accept, even though I absolutely disagree with a universal speed limit.
The percentage of 51 pro / 47 contra is mostly the same as it has been for the last 10 to 15 years, and it previous discussions haven’t changed anything about the introduction of a speed limit.
I don’t think that the ruling political parties will introduce a speed limit, just out of their very own survival instinct. If they don’t want to lose thousands of angry middle aged men to another party, then they won’t introduce a speed limit. The Green party (currently the biggest supporter of a universal speed limit) has seen a strong rise in the polls lately, but have plummeted again when the discussion about a universal speed limit came up.
This article seems to be a bit clichee… German drivers are by far not as disciplined as this article suggests. Everybody is tailgating you, even if you’re 5 over the speed limit already, which is not the best idea for me to do since I pretty much just got my license and thus have to obey especially strictly to those rules set by the gouvernment. I think, the stupidness of drivers doesn’t change from one country to another.
More traffic means more people sitting around with engine left on (unless you have or use stop start) that means more pollution in one area.
Why can’t those in favour of the speed restrictions consider variable speed limits? Surely this is the direct, yet sensible middle ground for both sides of the arguments.
You wanna to know what’s going on in these hippies minds.
“Driving faster emits more nasty Co2 so why not we enforce granny speeds on the Autobahn?”
The only thin i have to say to this (i’m against a speed limit) is:
People behaving stupid causes accidents. And people are stupid, no matter what speed.
Yes, a fast crash is more devastating than a slow one, but then again, perfect road safety means abolish all traffic.
It’s a bit like Guns for americans. If we don’t need it, alright. 90% of my Autobahn travels are at 120 kph on the right lane. But when i need it, say someone is in the hospital or dying (f.e. Clarksons 928 Story) i want to be able to be with them, even if that means averaging 200+ kph.
The problem is that we have a Institution wich wants to ban it and they wont stop until they get what they want but often what they want isnt actually better like having a speed limit
I would want to see if there is any impact to tourism with this. I’m sure the derestricted zones aren’t the main reason people go to Germany, but it seems synonymous with the country and part of the experience people seek when they visit the country. People may choose to vacation in other European countries with more emotion tied to their image than the protocol based one with a four letter word stuck in the back of many peoples’ heads…
The autobahn is clearly not only helping car enthusiasts but everyone else with derestricted speed limits
I hope I get a chance to go to the autobahn when I go to Germany