Why the German Autobahn Has No Speed Limits?

You might have seen a lot of videos or heard from someone from Germany that the German Autobahn (translates to "Car Road" that means "Motorway") has no speed limits. But have you ever wondered why this iconic highway has no speed limts on certain stretches? Everytime I drove on the Autobahns, I had the same question which lead to writing this article. I found some unique reasons behind it, lets have a look

DRIVING TIPS

Amit Palsule

12/29/20243 min read

Historical Legacy

The 1st section of Autobahn was constructed in early 1930s and it was opened to public on 27th June 1932 connecting cities Bonn and Cologne. At that time there was no concept of speed limits, as there were less vehicles, hence lesser road accidents. The roads were designed in a way that one can accomodate high speeds with ease. This historic context laid the groundwork for the Autobahn's reputation as a place where speed has no limits! The fact is that 40% of Autobahn network has speed limits and there is an advisory speed limit of 130 kmph or 81 mph for the entire network.

Exceptional Driver Training

Getting a German driving license is one of the toughest and costliest affair. For my German driving license, I spent exactly €2.673 (Including all costs) of which 63% of the costs I paid for the practical lessons.The average failure rate for practical test is 40% and 36% for the theory test for German driving test. Therefore it is necessary to undergo the rigorous training and testing process ensuring the driver is highly skilled and confident in their driving abilities.

High Vehicle Standards

When it comes to cars, German cars are the most sophisticated known for its build quality and reliability. German vehicles undergo stringent inspection and high standards of safety. By law, you as the vehicle owner in Germany need to get your vehicle inspected (3 year old vehicles) after every 24 months, ensuring your vehicle is road worthy and safe to drive. This means the vehicle needs to be in excellent condition to handle high speeds and gets tested for braking systems, steering systems, structural safety and other essential cosmetic elements such as lights, mirrors, glasses etc.

Superior Road Design and Infrastructure

Autobahn is a true marvel of engineering that includes wide lanes, smooth curves and excellent team to maintain the Autobahns. On top of this, Autobahns have resting areas for the drivers to ensure one gets enough break, refreshments to stay alert. This allows the drivers to ensure high speed driving with maximum safety reducing risk of accidents associated with such high speeds.

Disciplined Drivers

Drivers are well trained, disciplined and mutually respect other drivers on the road. I have observed and experienced that the drivers in Germany have excellent driving etiquettes that allows you to trust the traffic around you. As all other drivers on the road have undergone same amount vigorous training. Everyone respect and follow the traffic rules and there are certain unwritten code of conduct that makes your driving experience excellent. That is why there is a strong cultural acceptance of high speed driving in Germany since decades. Want to know safe driving tips?

Impressive Safety Record

I was astonished by the fact that, though there are no speed limits on German Autobahns and high speed culture there is lower number of traffic related fatalities compared to other countries. 2760 Deaths were recorded on the German roads in the year 2024, which are 2.8% lowered compared to the year 2023. It is observed that since COVID 19 pandemic there is a decrement in the number of deaths on German roads. I strongly believe that the credit goes to the highly trained drivers, vehicle safety standards, road design and driving etiquettes.

Summary

Now you know why there are no speed limits on the German Autobahns, because of its strong legacy, safe road designs, cultural acceptance of high speed driving along with highly trained drivers. We can say that the German Autobahn is not just a highway, but a symbol of engineering excellence offering thrill of unrestricted speed focusing on vehicle and driver safety. Whenever you are driving or driven on any part of the world, remember that the intricate balance of above mentioned factors make high speed driving possible. Please make sure you drive responsibly and respect the other road users, stay calm.
Have you ever experienced driving on Autobahn? Please share your experience driving in Germany.
Let me know your comments in the section below or write me on writetous@themotoringminute.com

Image Credits: various contributors on Pexels.com