- Apr 3, 2008
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Inspired by the discussion in Zaps thread, is the US ready for an AutoBahn? With unrestricted sections & a special license required to use it?
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Is the US ready for an unrestricted AutoBahn?
- Thread starter satyajitmenon
- Start date
jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
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sdifox
No Lifer
- Sep 30, 2005
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Nor would an aotobahn with additional licensing requirements. That is what toll highways are for.
jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
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So what's next - it's no faster to drive on a highway with a 75mph limit than with a 55mph limit?
jlee
Lifer
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And the speed limits are the same as other highways. Actually, toll highways here are 10mph slower than non-toll highways out west.
sdifox
No Lifer
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German autobahnen have no general speed limit (though about 55% of the total length is subject to local and/or conditional limits), but the advisory speed limit (Richtgeschwindigkeit) is 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph).
It's just got stretches where there is no speed limit. So you may as well go to a track.
Meghan54
Lifer
- Oct 18, 2009
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As the interstate system stands right now, and I'm speaking of physical road conditions, I don't know one mile I'd do as unrestricted speed limits. The roads are too rough, in too poor condition to allow unlimited speeds in any semblence of safety.
Ought to read how much maintenance the Germans do on their unlimited roads to make them able to allow cars to run at whatever speed the car will do.
From what I've read, the seams must be "seamless".....no bump between concrete sections. Minor imperfections in the surface become greatly magnified as the speed increases to Autobahn levels.
And, again from reading, the Germans fix potholes in the concrete not by patching them (again, the roadway imperfections) but by replacing the whole concrete section involved.
Let's see any state in the U.S. maintain any interstate in that manner. That'll be the day. Not to mention that for unlimited speeds, you'll need at least a 6 lane road.....a true left lane for fast movers, middle lane for all other "normal" drivers, and right lane for merging and slow drivers. Our typical 4 lane interstates just won't cut it.....and again, the states funding and building that will happen just after the zombie apocalypse. Or just after we get flying cars.
Ought to read how much maintenance the Germans do on their unlimited roads to make them able to allow cars to run at whatever speed the car will do.
From what I've read, the seams must be "seamless".....no bump between concrete sections. Minor imperfections in the surface become greatly magnified as the speed increases to Autobahn levels.
And, again from reading, the Germans fix potholes in the concrete not by patching them (again, the roadway imperfections) but by replacing the whole concrete section involved.
Let's see any state in the U.S. maintain any interstate in that manner. That'll be the day. Not to mention that for unlimited speeds, you'll need at least a 6 lane road.....a true left lane for fast movers, middle lane for all other "normal" drivers, and right lane for merging and slow drivers. Our typical 4 lane interstates just won't cut it.....and again, the states funding and building that will happen just after the zombie apocalypse. Or just after we get flying cars.
No. If a special license was required, that implies that it would have to be an additional highway to existing ones. That's impractical, since the places where that would be most useful would not have the available real estate to build another highway and the cost of building (and maintaining) it would be extremely difficult to recoup. What's needed in this country is better driver's training in general.
Bignate603
Lifer
- Sep 5, 2000
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No. There are far too many idiots. The last thing I need is some idiot in a riced out beater slamming into me because he's trying to go 120 mph.
jlee
Lifer
- Sep 12, 2001
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just give it a little more time. cars will start driving themselves sooner then we all think, and when the time comes that its ILLEGAL for humans to drive on highways, you can bet we will be getting places twice as fast. the speed limits will go up, and cars will be doing 90mph bumper-to-bumper to save gas and congestion. its going to be a treat!
How would special licensing weed out the idiots? Written and practical exams can test skills, they can't test if you're a bad mannered idiot. Knowing the right answers to rules and regulations doesn't mean the person will abide by them.
sdifox
No Lifer
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I've heard that in Germany, the license required to use the unrestricted portions of the AutoBahn has a practical component to it, which isn't easy to pass.
http://www.german-way.com/driving.html
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mmntech
Lifer
- Sep 20, 2007
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It won't ever happen. I can't see the enviro-nazis letting vehicles run at 200km/h. Plus, very few people have the experience necessary to drive at those speeds. It's dangerous on public roads. A track is far safer. If you're going to do it, do it properly.
Demo24
Diamond Member
- Aug 5, 2004
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No, not for awhile unless we actually start testing people worth a damn. I sure as hell don't want some idiot passing me at 100mph in a Truck/minivan/giant SUV. They aren't made to do that sort of speed so unless we install mandated governors on vehicles not capable of speeds safely above 80, it's just not feasible. Then you'll have some old person that shouldn't be driving get confused and move over to the 'ultra-fast' lane and get clobbered. It's completely stupid how we spend millions trying to make our cars safer (and yes its a good thing), when something that would probably have a bigger impact is actual drivers training and not 'push this to go, this to brake...ok good, now go battle it out in 5pm traffic'.
And the Autobahn isn't always as smooth as you may think it is. Sure it can be pretty nice, but I've driven in several parts that were 'bumpy' and made me a bit nervous to be doing 100mph+ there. I basically clenched the buttocks and held on trying to keep the car as stable as possible. It is incredibly fun and exhilarating to do those sort of speeds legally, but nice that people actually respect the rules of the road and you don't have to worry to much about some mindless idiot camping out in the fast lane.
And the Autobahn isn't always as smooth as you may think it is. Sure it can be pretty nice, but I've driven in several parts that were 'bumpy' and made me a bit nervous to be doing 100mph+ there. I basically clenched the buttocks and held on trying to keep the car as stable as possible. It is incredibly fun and exhilarating to do those sort of speeds legally, but nice that people actually respect the rules of the road and you don't have to worry to much about some mindless idiot camping out in the fast lane.
No:
1. People don't stay right. Unlimited speed does NOT work if people think it is their right to drive in the left lane at whatever speed they want.
2. People don't take maintenance seriously. Tire pressure is awfully important at 120mph.
3. Younger kids drive and the threshold for getting a license is simply too low. In Germany you need to spend a lot of money and take a lengthy class.
1. People don't stay right. Unlimited speed does NOT work if people think it is their right to drive in the left lane at whatever speed they want.
2. People don't take maintenance seriously. Tire pressure is awfully important at 120mph.
3. Younger kids drive and the threshold for getting a license is simply too low. In Germany you need to spend a lot of money and take a lengthy class.
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