The Autobahn is a controlled highway system that is accessible in Germany. Another word for the Autobahn is Bundesautobahn which also just means federal motorway. Most of the highway has no speed limit for some classes of vehicles. Today the Autobahn symbolizes freedom for many people even from other countries outside of Germany. The Autobahn has a massive 8,080 miles (13,000 kilometers) of roads, making it one of the longest road systems in the world.
Autobahn speed limit.
The German government recommends a maximum speed of 130 kph, so about 80 mph on Autobahns, but other drivers are free to go as fast as they want in de-restricted sections of the Autobahns since not all the roads on the Autobahn are restricted.
Are there Autobahn rules?
But just like other highways the Autobahn has rules you need to follow. Here are some of the rules according to Auto Europe.
- Bicycles, Mopeds, and Pedestrians are prohibited from entering or using the Autobahn in any capacity, this also includes vehicles with a v-max of less than 60 k/ph (36mph).
- Stopping, parking, u-turns, and backing up on the Autobahn is prohibited.
- Passing on the right is strictly prohibited, and if caught engaging in such actions, heavy fines will apply.
- Entering or exiting the Autobahn is only allowed on marked interchanges, and pulling off into the shoulder is prohibited unless your vehicle has broken down.
- Running out of fuel on the Autobahn is illegal, as it as seen as a preventable circumstance, and leads to stopping on the Autobahn, which, as stated in rule 2, is prohibited.
- During heavily congested traffic, drivers in the right and left lanes are required to move as far as possible to their designated side, creating an open channel through the middle of the expressway in case emergency vehicles need to pass through.
- Passenger vehicles will be assessed no toll fees.
- Though it isn’t a required Autobahn rule, under most circumstances, it is advised to stay in the right lane as much as possible when traveling on the Autobahn, especially for first timers. The left lane is used primarily for passing and for vehicles that are traveling fast. Drivers behind you will probably flash their lights as a signal for you to move back to the right, and let them through. Though it’s not mandatory for you to keep right all the time, driving the Autobahn can be a horrific task to undertake, and the action of driving on the right lane will help guarantee a stress-free travel experience.
Is the Autobahn safe?
It may seem like the Autobahn is not a safe road considering the fact that most parts of it have no speed limit, it is actually a pretty safe road and has a very good safety record. According to Ultimate Driving Tours, “…less than 10% of fatal road collisions in Germany take place on Autobahns, with the majority happening on country and inner cities roads. Meanwhile, compared to the 4.5 fatalities per billion km travelled on the US interstate, the Autobahn sees just 2.7 fatalities for the same distance.”
Who made the Autobahn? (creation/history)
Just days after the 1933 Nazi takeover, Adolf Hitler embraced an ambitious Autobahn construction project. The Autobahn was not invented by the Nazis, but rather the idea for the motorways connecting Germany’s cities was conceived in the 1920s. Adolf Hitler did use the German Autobahn for political gain and as a tool to create jobs, with thousands of workers contributing to the expansion of the road network.
Why is the Autobahn popular?
Germany’s Autobahns are famous for being some of the world’s few public roads without a speed limit for cars and motorcycles. The Autobahn is a cultural masterpiece for Germany and is considered one of the best driving roads in the world. Many people love the Autobahn so much that they tend to deliver their cars to Germany to test the cars speed capability on the roads with no speed limit.