License to Speed?

[shakedown067]

Originally Posted by Shadow

They have set rules for operation of a MV and stricter enforcement of those rules. Seems most people abide by them willingly (passing-left lane=fast lane, etc).

Don't they have to have a special inspection sticker too to drive on the interstates? I've heard you can't even have major dents on your car...as opposed to the states where you can drive anything on the interstate if it has a license plate. I think they'd have to change those rules before you could ever have an advanced driving license. Also, the autobann is a toll road (Is all of it toll, or just part of it?), so I think that changes things a bit too.

[Rich Z]

Well, it looks like that wheel has already been invented then.....

[Z06 Rocket]

Originally Posted by shakedown067

Don't they have to have a special inspection sticker too to drive on the interstates? I've heard you can't even have major dents on your car...as opposed to the states where you can drive anything on the interstate if it has a license plate. I think they'd have to change those rules before you could ever have an advanced driving license. Also, the autobann is a toll road (Is all of it toll, or just part of it?), so I think that changes things a bit too.

When I visited Germany I did not see any toll roads on the Autobahn. The Autobahn is all of the highways, not just the few without speed limits. That is their word for Interstate (basically).

Alot of the Autobahn is actually regulated (very heavily). They had packs of traffic police in areas running radar and they have numerous speed cameras. They post it well so you can slow down and avooid the ticket if you want. Then you can blast off to the next speed sensitve area.

I did not need any special permit on my car or license to drive as fast as I wanted in my little VW rental car (wich actually maxed out at about 135 mph). My father rented a Mercedes and we split the group up between the two cars. Neither one of us saw / heard of any regulations requiring inspections or stickers to drive as fast as you want. Our friends in Germany don't have anything either.

One thing is for sure you better be on your toes if you plan to use the left lane and pass someone over there. I looked two or even three times and stared for a few seconds to be sure that I didn't pull into the path of a 200 plus MPH exotic car. I saw alot of BMW - AUDI - Mercedes zipping on by and they gain on you FAST! I even saw a little caravan of three nice Audi's nose to tail zipping right on by everyone. The handfull of Corvettes I saw were all playing it cool and moving at normal speeds.

[Shadow]

Although I've never been to Germany, I did my research before I posted my previous comment.

Here's a little in depth information regarding the Autobahn, it's use and regulations for anyone that's interested:

http://maps.unomaha.edu/Peterson/fun...r/Autobahn.htm

Regulations
Besides gaining an understanding of the Autobahn's structure, knowledge of its regulations is also important. The most significant of these involves the speed limit. For the most part, no speed limit is enforced on about 40% of the motorway. The government, though, recommends a limit of 130 kilometers per hour. At times, it is necessary to enforce some limits. In fact, speed limits ranging from 90 kilometers per hour to 120 kilometers per hour are actually quite common. Such restrictions can be found along urban areas, dangerously curved sections, or segments with very heavy traffic. Other sections have enforced speed restrictions only during wet weather or night hours. Also, the speed limit in construction zones can be as low as 60 kilometers per hour. Since road conditions, traffic, and weather vary, electronic signs that can alter the speed limit have been installed along some sections of the Autobahn. Surprisingly, the accident and death rates on the Autobahn are relatively low. Crashes along the Autobahn account for only 10% of Germany's national traffic fatalities. Actually, the fatality rate on the United States interstate system is higher than that on the German Autobahn.

Certain legal regulations must be enforced along the Autobahn in order to ensure the safety of the drivers and their passengers. First of all, seat belts are mandatory for anyone who is riding in a car. All children who are under the age of 13 are not allowed to sit in the front seat if the car has a back seat. Also, those cars at the rear of a traffic jam need to turn on their hazardous blinkers to warn approaching traffic. There are also very serious drunk driving consequences, which include huge fines and loss of a driver's license.