Is the US ready for an unrestricted AutoBahn?

[HybridSquirrel]

No, because dumb fuckin drivers will still be sitting in the left lane when someone in a porsche 911 comes up on their ass at 160mph and won't have the brains enough to get over.

 

[Throckmorton]

Why are so many people posting that it won't work for America because of slow drivers?

No, it won't work for America because of BAD drivers who will DIE and KILL other people if they can legally go 120mph.

I hope you don't love your family too much, because they'll have a slim chance of survival with this dumbass on an American autobahn:

 

[Throckmorton]

BTW, Texas already has an autobahn if you're rich. The maximum speeding ticket last time I checked was $251. I got one for going 117mph

 

[dawp]

No because our government doesn't want to spend the the money needed to maintain or build the the roads properly to be able to drive at those speeds. our road can barely handle the current speeds as it is and that cost would go up dramatically for higher speeds. Compare the construction cost of the autobahn to what we spend here.

http://www.german-autobahn.eu/index.asp?page=design

Roadbed and surface measuring about 68 cm (27 inches) in thickness.

which is much thicker than what we have here.

 

[sdifox]

BTW, Texas already has an autobahn if you're rich. The maximum speeding ticket last time I checked was $251. I got one for going 117mph

no points? That is not too bad I guess.

 

[alexruiz]

I would have loved to vote yes, but sad truth is, absolutely NO.

The main reason is distracted drivers. Next time on the hwy, count the people who are on the phone, texting, eating, applying make up, etc. Tell me if you would feel safe driving fast next to them.

The maniacs driving fast are in general less of a risk, because more of them are paying attention. But if you combine both, distracted maniacs, which are still abundant, it is a losing proposition.

 

[ShawnD1]

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.

wtf? Most youtube videos of people driving like lunatics are from the US, and most of the roads in those videos look pretty ok.

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.

Is it really that big of a problem? I don't live in the US but I've driven my dinky Corolla 170k (106mph) on a regular highway and it wasn't a problem. If your car has tighter suspensions and control than a corolla then you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

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.

American roads are made of concrete?? Back when I did road construction as a student, there was concrete at the lowest level then foam (dirt?) then gravel then asphalt. Concrete is waaaaay below the surface.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Nope, we commute. Commuters should NOT be going anywhere near 90mph.

 

[Brigandier]

For those saying it wouldn't work here because people wouldn't stay right, that's one of the very few things you can actually get a ticket for on the autobahn. Keep right except to pass is not a suggestion, it's the law.

 

[Sunny129]

am i ready for an unrestricted "AutoBahn" in the US? yes. is the vast majority of Americans ready for such a thing? no, not by a long shot.

if you've ever driven (or been a passenger) on the AutoBahn, you'd know that people who are simply cruising along don't ever do it in the left/fast lane out of common courtesy. when they feel the need to pass, they get in the left lane, pass, and get right back over (unless they're cruising deep into triple digits). no such common courtesy exists here in the states. granted, i know we don't have speed limitless stretches of highway here, but even still i find ignorant, incompetent drivers doing 65-70mph in the left lane. just b/c the posted speed limit is 70mph doesn't mean you have the right to hold up faster moving traffic in the left lane...

unfortunately, as ready for something like this as some of us are, the vast majority of drivers in this country are far too stupid for such roadway to open in the U.S. anytime soon.

 

[Vadatajs]

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.

Then get the fuck over to the right and let him pass!

The single biggest problem with highways in the US (at least in the northeast) is people will not yield to faster travelers. Nobody goes the speed limit, but people going a mere 1 mph over the posted limit refuse to move over for 2 seconds to let a faster car pass.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Do I want one, yes? But the US is not ready. Driver's education is a joke and most people hate driving and pay no attention to what they are doing.

 

[exdeath]

No. As much as I'd love it, on the whole, Americans are far too selfish and competitive on a epeen and power tripping level for something cooperative like that to be possible. It won't work in a country where peoples lives suck so much that they have to start a race with anyone who tries to pass them or block other traffic to control them.

 

[exdeath]

Then get the fuck over to the right and let him pass!

The single biggest problem with highways in the US (at least in the northeast) is people will not yield to faster travelers. Nobody goes the speed limit, but people going a mere 1 mph over the posted limit refuse to move over for 2 seconds to let a faster car pass.

That is the epeen attitude I'm referring to. First they will speed up and try to keep you from catching up or passing, but when they realize their car sucks and can't out run you, they will match speeds with other traffic to block you.

Even when I know someone is actually deliberately picking a fight and provoking a race with me, and not just simply wanting to pass, Ill still move over and let them go about their way after Ive yanked them and chilled their attitude.

Ive been around cars and driving enough to know the difference between regular traffic just trying to maintain constant high speed and legitimately just passing slower traffic VS a murdered out something or other with HIDs that notices your car and starts getting uppity and riding your ass and going wot next to you. The latter get bitch slapped before they are allowed to limp away butthurt.

I guess that makes me guilty of epeen on some level too, but at least mine is only in response to deliberate targeted aggression by assholes and Im not just getting butt hurt by some 90 yr old in a Corolla passing me.

 

[Throckmorton]

no points? That is not too bad I guess.

Texas doesn't have points and you can't lose your license or go to jail for speeding.

 

[pm]

I'd settle for a nice 80MPH or so. Any faster and we'd have Prii holding up traffic.

You can do that here in Colorado now - with the speed limit of 75mph and the state patrol really only going after people who are 85mph+. As far as Prii, my Prius is one of the guys going a solid 80mph when the road isn't crowded and the weather is good.

As far as the Autobahn, I drove on it last year and the year before. Although it's unrestricted in parts, it's also highly restricted in other parts. They would have real-time shifting speed limits on each overpass along with automated camera radar that caught anyone and everyone over a certain limit. I was actually pretty impressed overall with it, not just because I could go really fast in some parts and everyone seemed very competent, but also because they updated the speed limit based on weather, visibility and number of cars on the road and then rigorously enforced it. I thought it was a very professional type of system.

 

[sdifox]

Texas doesn't have points and you can't lose your license or go to jail for speeding.

That's messed up.

 

[Zap]

American roads are made of concrete?? Back when I did road construction as a student, there was concrete at the lowest level then foam (dirt?) then gravel then asphalt. Concrete is waaaaay below the surface.

It varies depending on the location. Some places are all asphalt. Asphalt over concrete is usually just re-paving old roads. Lots of concrete surfaces on the interstates.

Texas doesn't have points and you can't lose your license or go to jail for speeding.

Nice! I don't know if there's a point at which you lose license or go to jail, but Wisconsin gives the option of paying a bit more than the fine amount to get zero points.

You can do that here in Colorado now - with the speed limit of 75mph and the state patrol really only going after people who are 85mph+.

I've driven on official 80MPH I-15 in Utah. Full legit. :thumbsup:

As far as Prii, my Prius is one of the guys going a solid 80mph when the road isn't crowded and the weather is good.

How's the instant MPG reading for you at that speed? Had a rental Prius doing about 17MPG around those speeds.

Come to think of it, I'm usually passed by Prii here on Wisconsin highways with me going around 70-75MPH. Lots of revenue enforcement here so I don't want to go too high above the 65MPH speed limit.

 

[Meghan54]

wtf? Most youtube videos of people driving like lunatics are from the US, and most of the roads in those videos look pretty ok.



Is it really that big of a problem? I don't live in the US but I've driven my dinky Corolla 170k (106mph) on a regular highway and it wasn't a problem. If your car has tighter suspensions and control than a corolla then you shouldn't have anything to worry about.



American roads are made of concrete?? Back when I did road construction as a student, there was concrete at the lowest level then foam (dirt?) then gravel then asphalt. Concrete is waaaaay below the surface.

Then learn to speak about what you know. Most of the U.S. interstate roadway is concrete, just like the German AutoBahn system. Granted, more and more is being converted to paved asphalt, but in its original form, and most mileage of interstate still in existence in the U.S., concrete is the roadway surface.

And there's a HUGE difference between doing 100mph and 200mph in the way a car will respond to bumps, dips, and other roadway imperfections. Tightening the suspension only enhances the car's reactions to imperfections, not "smooth" them over.

 

[Eli]

That's messed up.

That's glorious.

Probably the only good thing I've heard about Texas so far this year.

 

[pm]

How's the instant MPG reading for you at that speed? Had a rental Prius doing about 17MPG around those speeds.

17mpg with a Prius at 80mph? That sounds like there's something wrong with the car... I tend to get the 48mpg or so highway (measured with odometer and pump guage) and I tend to go 75-80mph - rarely under 75mph, rarely over 80mph. I've never done a complete tank's worth of driving at highways speeds so it's hard to separate the city driving from the highway driving, but I've always gotten better than 45mpg when I go to fill up.

 

[wirednuts]

Then learn to speak about what you know. Most of the U.S. interstate roadway is concrete, just like the German AutoBahn system. Granted, more and more is being converted to paved asphalt, but in its original form, and most mileage of interstate still in existence in the U.S., concrete is the roadway surface.

im pretty sure the autobahn was built about 3x thicker then the us highway system....

 

[thescreensavers]

That's glorious.

Probably the only good thing I've heard about Texas so far this year.

+1

 

[Bignate603]

Hence the special licensing.

Unless you want to build a whole separate highway system for people with special licenses or effectively make it illegal for people to drive the shortest way from A to B that "special licensing" wouldn't work.

Then get the fuck over to the right and let him pass!

The single biggest problem with highways in the US (at least in the northeast) is people will not yield to faster travelers. Nobody goes the speed limit, but people going a mere 1 mph over the posted limit refuse to move over for 2 seconds to let a faster car pass.

Who ever said I was in the left lane? An idiot driving an unsafe car too fast can still hit you, even if you're doing everything correctly.

 

[ShawnD1]

And there's a HUGE difference between doing 100mph and 200mph in the way a car will respond to bumps, dips, and other roadway imperfections. Tightening the suspension only enhances the car's reactions to imperfections, not "smooth" them over.

Knowing the risks is why I keep my corolla under 200mph at all times :thumbsup: