Propoposed Autobahn speed limit

[gwood]

NYTimes
Is nothing sacred?
Alois Ruf interview near the end of the article.

[toddu]

I've been on the Autobahn, and there were speed limits posted everywhere. Maybe there are stretches where there is no limit? The locals told me there is a limit, but the police don't inforce it. But, if you were to get in an accident your insurance doesn't have to cover you.

[wreckah]

on the autobahn, there's lots of stretches without speed limit. It is in fact the case though, that above 120kph you're not insured anymore. The 120kph is an 'advised' speed limit.

Close to the big cities and on ring roads, there will always be real speed limits, and they're frequently controlled. It's only in the more deserted parts where you can still give it the beans

by the way: the nurburgring nordschleife is officially a public one-way toll road without speed limit. It's not a track!

[Dkennel]

Actually the "recommended" speed is 130km/h, Autobahn Richtgeschwindigkeit. Many areas have posted speed limits due to visibility, congestion, etc... Several years back the State of Hessen had speed limits on all it's Autobahns, not sure that is still the case.
I was just back in January and there were plenty of stretches without speed limit. You can supposedly loose your insurance coverage, if the carrier can show you were reckless and speed was inappropriate for weather, road conditions, etc...
Not a lot of deserted parts in Germany, the biggest problem is traffic density, congestion, and construction zones...

[thomschoon]

There are not only speed limits in most areas but the speed cameras are getting really bad, they had portable ones on the overpasses all along the A8 today. It is still more fun then any US highway

[Steve PH]

From what I have read in the press most German politicians are opposed to this even surprisingly some of the greens, its just the EU trying to meddle.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by wreckah
on the autobahn, there's lots of stretches without speed limit. It is in fact the case though, that above 120kph you're not insured anymore. The 120kph is an 'advised' speed limit.

Close to the big cities and on ring roads, there will always be real speed limits, and they're frequently controlled. It's only in the more deserted parts where you can still give it the beans

by the way: the nurburgring nordschleife is officially a public one-way toll road without speed limit. It's not a track!

Close but no cigar.

The official speed limit is 130 clicks in many places.

Where there is no listed speed limit if you are going over 130 clicks and have an accident, even if its not your fault, you are assessed part of the responsibility, financial and points.

Problem these days is that there is so much traffic that you rarely get to drive really fast on the 'bahn. Only at night or very early in the morning is it free for fun driving.

[Dantilla]

I remember a quote back during the '70's oil crisis. The German head of transportation was asked why they don't impose a speed limit to save gas. His reply:

"Then we would build cars as miserably as the Americans do".