View from the Autobahn

[widgeon13]

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by widgeon13

yeah, whatever, you can take your finger and shove it.

[widgeon13]

Getting back on subject, statistics seem to indicate autobahn is safe, safer than our highways:

Accident rates
Despite the prevailing high speeds, the accident, injury and death rates on the Autobahn are remarkably low. The Autobahn carries about a third of all Germany's traffic, but injury accidents on the Autobahn account for only 6% of such accidents nationwide and less than 12% of all traffic fatalities were the result of Autobahn crashes (2004). In fact, the annual fatality rate (3.2 per billion km in 2004) is consistently lower than that of most other superhighway systems, including the US Interstates (5.0 in 2003).

[Dennis Kalma]

Ditto on the autobahn safety, spent a lot of time there and I feel much safer at 220 kmh there than I ever do in Canada.

One interesting story, family was off to Austria for vacation, I was driving, cruising along at about 200 kmh, both kids and wife sound asleep.

...I got passed by a hearse and funeral procession....had to wake the wife up and point it out. I truly hope to this day that it was just some joker and his friends tooling around for fun, hate to think that it was for real!

Anyway, I am growing to believe that the speeds achieved there are impossible in North America....the roads are designed poorly, the cars are not built for it, the drivers have rotten training and can better be described as "steerers" than drivers, and they are too distracted by everything else, including their coffee, their cell phones, or their riding mates.

As it was described to me by a European policeman - driving is an activity that can easily kill you, treat it with that level of respect and attention - and that sentiment is certainly not believed over here.

Dennis

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by widgeon13
Guess on-ramp wouldn't know about Germany since he doesn't fly.

Vehicle inspection is also much more stringent than what we experience in US and you rarely see cars more than 8-10 years old.

Off Ramp knows everything dont you know!

Really spot on about the vehicle inspections there. They take a sharp pointed welding hammer and probe for rust on the underbody. Anything that is not firm they probe and if there is any rust its either fixed or the car is not legal to drive on the roads. This TUV inspection is done every two years...

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Off Ramp knows everything dont you know!

exactly. I know enough not to drive 160mph without a helmet and a roll cage. WOOOOO

[Dennis Kalma]

Hey On-Ramp....I am supposing that your comment was a dig against Joe, which is completely understandable, but if you were serious, just keep in mind that the designers of the fine cars that we all enjoy on this list do exactly what you are suggesting is unwise....maybe you are more of a Hyundai kind of guy?

...just joking of course...

Dennis

[mossguy]

Children! Children! Play Nice!

Tom

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Dennis Kalma
Hey On-Ramp....I am supposing that your comment was a dig against Joe, which is completely understandable, but if you were serious, just keep in mind that the designers of the fine cars that we all enjoy on this list do exactly what you are suggesting is unwise....maybe you are more of a Hyundai kind of guy?

...just joking of course...

Dennis

Or maybe a Kia... or AMC Pacer perhaps?

Off Ramp forgets that the Formula One drivers for many years drove without seat belts, a roll bar or even fireproof clothing of any sort, at speeds well over 160. These men were all "stupid" I guess, like Fangio, Nuvulari and the like.

[stuartj]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Nah Victor, I just love it when someone calls another person stupid for no real reason.

Fear not Joe, there is no chance that will ever happen to you.