Sad news for Germany and the Autobahn

[Joeaksa]

Just got this from TWIG (this week in Germany), a weekly email publication that sends out info about Germany. www.germany-info.org.

Really sad that some people are trying to push through a speed limit for the Autobahn's. They want to limit it to 80 klicks an hour, which is 55 mph or so. Doubt it will pass but you never know. A 911 at 55 mph is barely in 2nd gear.

JoeA


Key lawmaker backs autobahn slow-down
German lawmakers may be poised to put the brakes on drivers used to navigating some stretches of the country's famed autobahn freeways as fast as their BMWs can carry them.

Frustrated by drivers who flash their lights and blare horns to force slower cars out of passing lanes, an influential group of parliamentarians has recommended the introduction of a general speed limit of about 80 mph on all 7,000 miles of autobahn roads.
Germany's autobahns aren't totally free of speed limits, but in many areas the limit is simply recommended.

"People can see that it makes sense in the face of rising fuel prices, and increasing concerns about the environment and public safety," said Ernst Ulrich von Weizsacker, a member of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democratic Party and the chair of parliament's environment committee.

"We do a lot of things to force industry and households to get their carbon dioxide emissions down," he added. "Why shouldn't we do the same for cars? We could avoid unnecessary accidents and keep Germany's fuel consumption down."

Previous calls to reign in drivers in the country of Porsche and Mercedes have met with dismay and even protest.

But there are now signs that drivers may grudgingly accept a general speed limit amidst intense public anger at high profile accidents, including one involving a 34-year-old DaimlerChrysler test driver found guilty of negligent manslaughter in February.

Prosecutors said that the test driver caused the death of a 21-year-old mother and her infant by forcing her car off the road as he tried to pass her on the far left shoulder while traveling down the highway at speeds of up to 155 mph.

Yet observers say that Germany's center-left government — its popularity at all-time lows — may be reluctant to push for the regulation of what is widely regarded as one of the last unregulated parts of German life.

"The car is something very special in Germany, so discussions about speed limits are not easy," Mathias Knobloch of Auto Club Europe told Deutsche Welle. "In the United States, they say, 'Okay, we are free, we can use weapons.' In Germany, the equivalent might be 'We are free citizens, we have to drive without a speed limit.'"

Opponents of a speed limit say it would be more effective to improve road infrastructure at known trouble spots. Others point to statistics showing that road fatalities per capita in Germany are already lower than the European Union average.

Links: Autobahn-online.de

[oldE]

I thought the writer's use of BMW, Porsche & Mercedes put an interesting slant on the story, insinuating only the very wealthy get to take advantage of the suggested speed limits to get quickly from place to place. What this sort of posturing hopes to avoid is alerting the salesman in his Opel or Ford he will have an extra half hour or more added to his driving day. I used to drive a 924S on my rounds as a Sales Rep/Area Manager, with 90 mile drives a couple of days a week. On one hand, it was nice to be able to eat up the miles to & from, on the other hand, it was frustrating not to be able to do it legally here in Nova Scotia. The "influential group of Parlimentarians" probably don't have to drive home to their kids. They get to fly. At taxpayers' expense. (end of rant)
Les

[Schrup]

They were talking about this twenty years ago when I was there. Ain't gonna happen anytime soon. The Autobahn is as ingrained into the German lifestyle as beer & pork. If push comes to shove I think you would see some serious civil disobedience.

[john70t]

"the test driver caused the death of a 21-year-old mother and her infant by forcing her car off the road as he tried to pass her on the far left shoulder"(?)
-Don't the Polizai(sp) already give out heavy-handed tickets for any and all infractions there based upon income? Wasn't there some wealthy Swiss who paid a $30,000 ticket? They should make it a restricted toll road.

Left-lane squatting on the Autobahn is asking for trouble and she found it, unfortunately. All those extra people have to drive somewhere

[Erakad]

I was told during my time in Germany a few years ago (96-01) that the same thing had been brought up by the government, but was shot down when Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche threatened to take their plants elsewhere. Not sure if it was true, but if they did move their plants elsewhere, it would hit the Germans pretty hard. Didn't I read they had something like 10% unemployment. Add to that the costs of reunification...might actually be a valid threat.