Autobahn in Germany
A general speed limit for road traffic applies in almost all countries. Exceptions are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Haiti, Somalia and Germany. The magnificent German autobahns have proven to be a blessing for speedsters, where on certain sections you can drive at the speed of light.
However, this situation may change. German politicians have repeatedly raised the issue of introducing a general speed limit on autobahns, and it is now being seriously discussed. The arguments in favor of such a measure are simple: reducing the speed limit would benefit the environment and also significantly reduce the number of accidents. Moreover, a representative survey just conducted by the sociological institute YouGov showed that the majority of ordinary German citizens also support a general speed limit on highways.
According to the survey results, 56 percent of Germans consider it advisable to reduce the maximum permitted speed on highways to 150 kilometers per hour. In particular, women are most in favor (61 percent of respondents), while 50 percent of men are in favor. 39 percent of respondents spoke out against such a measure.
As for a general speed limit on autobahns of 130 kilometers per hour, 56 percent of Germans do not want to hear about such an option. Well, 86 percent of survey participants reject the possibility of introducing a speed limit of no more than 100 kilometers per hour on highways.
Despite the absence of a general speed limit on autobahns, Germany has a recommended speed: 130 kilometers per hour. On sections where speeding is not prohibited, this recommendation can be ignored. But if a very fast driver causes an accident, there will be no mercy. However, on about a third of German autobahn sections you cannot speed up because the speed limit is restricted there. In total, this amounts to several thousand kilometers.
The autobahns are the calling card of Germany and a source of special pride for its residents. Currently, their network totals almost 13,000 kilometers and is one of the largest in the world. This is a meticulously designed road system.
To ensure traffic safety, oncoming lanes are separated by metal or concrete barriers. Typically, there are two or three lanes in one direction. But there are also autobahns with four lanes on each side. There are no at-grade intersections on such roads. Traffic interchanges are of the cloverleaf type.
The construction of an autobahn is a very complex and responsible process. Naturally, the soil is examined and drainage work is carried out. After that, several load-bearing layers on a bitumen base with a thickness of at least half a meter are laid, followed by a top layer made of high-quality rocky and mountain materials with a thickness of two to four centimeters. This, in turn, is covered with rough-surface asphalt, which ensures good adhesion and creates a barrier to increasing the permissible noise level.
As a rule, in Germany, high-speed highways are built bypassing populated areas. If an autobahn does go through a city, it is exclusively via tunnels and elevated roads, without harming urban infrastructure. And if the highway is built in areas where animals live (for example, roe deer and wild boars), special crossings are built for them above it – bridges enclosed by high fences or nets and landscaped.
All German autobahns are numbered, and according to a special system. Autobahns with odd numbers (A1, 3, 5, 7, 9) connect settlements in the northern and southern regions of the country, while even numbers (A2, 4, 6, 8) connect eastern and western ones. Highways with single-digit numbers (A1 to A9) are the longest. They run across the entire country and often continue beyond its borders. The longest is the A7 autobahn, which connects Denmark and Austria via Germany.
Autobahns with two-digit numbers are of medium length; they are laid between settlements within individual regions. For example, A10 belongs to the so-called "Berlin Ring" and A99 to the "Munich Ring". The shortest highways have three-digit numbers. These sections typically connect major highways.
On German autobahns there are many equipped parking areas - with rest zones, forest parks, gas stations, hotels, restaurants and cafes. There are even roadside churches - both small chapels and large temples. Their doors are open 24 hours a day. In some of them you can not only listen to a sermon but also confess: you never know what has accumulated in your soul during a long trip.