THE AUTOBAHN - HEAVEN FOR SPEED JUNKIES AND JOURNOS.
The Autobahn is one of those legendary stretches of road that has a mystique around it, especially with the no-speed-limit zones. Here’s the lowdown on how it came about, what’s allowed, and whether your turbocharged Mk1 Golf would be a go on there! The Autobahn, or "Bundesautobahn," started taking shape in the 1920s. The idea was to create a network of highways to connect major cities, improving transportation and mobility. Officially, the first Autobahn opened in 1932 between Cologne and Bonn. It wasn’t initially built for high speeds but as a national infrastructure project. However, when the Nazis came to power, the Autobahn became a symbol of German engineering prowess, with heavy government investment. The construction boom continued through WWII, and even though many parts were destroyed during the war, the network was rebuilt and expanded post-1945. Not all of the Autobahn is speed-limit-free, but roughly 70% of it has sections without a set limit. This is where the magic happens - drivers can theoretically go as fast as they want, provided it’s safe and the road conditions allow for it. However, there is a recommended speed limit of 130 km/h (called Richtgeschwindigkeit), and going faster than that can make you more liable in case of an accident, even if you're not technically speeding. One thing that’s also often discussed is the way higher speed affects the rate of accidents, especially with the ‘speed kills’ thing being hammered into our heads since we learned to ride a BMX. Contrary to what you might think, the unrestricted sections of the Autobahn aren't the most dangerous. In fact, Germany’s overall accident rate is quite low compared to other countries with lower speed limits. The reasoning behind this is that drivers are generally well-disciplined, and there’s a strong focus on road safety, vehicle maintenance, and following strict driving regulations. German drivers tend to be highly skilled due to the rigorous training required for a driver’s license, and the Autobahn itself is meticulously maintained. Statistically, most accidents on the Autobahn occur on sections that do have speed limits, usually due to tailgating, distraction, or weather conditions.
Rules sorta don’t exist for doing silly speeds on the Autobahn, in terms of cars we mean. To legally max out the odo on the Autobahn, there are no specific rules on the kind of car you need, but your car has to be roadworthy and meet TÜV (Technischer Überwachungsverein) standards. It’s well known that the TÜV is one of the stricter ones around, so if you want that ABF turbo-powered Mk1 to hit 300 km/h, it has to be built with the best parts and processes available. If your Mk1 isn’t up to the standard, like not having brakes and tyres rated for high speeds, you’ll catch a fine. TÜV rules also want your car to be able to stop at an acceptable distance from high speeds. Seeing old cars nailing it on the Autobahn is not as common as you think, so they’re guaranteed to attract the Autobahnpolizei’s attention. Modern things like an AMG C63 can run on the limiter for days without worry. On the Autobahn, lane discipline is crucial and so the left lane is for overtaking ONLY. If you're not overtaking, you must move to the right, and unlike most places, it isn’t just an etiquette thing - in Germany, it’s the law and is a fineable offence. If someone does catch you when you’re at a cool 230, you have to move over as soon as possible, again at risk of a fine if you don’t. We know this works thanks to the aforementioned accident rate, in Germany there’s discipline because there are consequences for your actions. If you punch ‘Autobahn top speed” into your YouTube search you’ll find loads of videos featuring all manner of cars, but the fastest runs come from modern hypercars. The fastest we’ve seen features a Bugatti Chiron, which you’d expect.
Take a look at the YouTube video from Radim Passer that shows his run on a limitless section of the Autobahn in a Bugatti Chiron, with what we believe is the fastest documented private run to date: Bugatti Chiron on Autobahn - 417 KPH (GPS) On-Board CAM | POV GoPro | Radim Passer
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