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.
