autobahns in the us?

[fran]

I was reading an editorial in Road and Track (I think) about having something similar to a German Autobahn in the US. It would be awesome to have highways that rarely have speed limits with well maintained freeze-resistant roads. Do you think American drivers would ever become good and cautious enough to be able to drive on such a high-speed expressway? Or would you even want one?

 

[wood_e]

I'd like one, but someone will probably have it torn down because of someones stupidity on it. It would be nice to have if people would be careful and pay attention, but I doubt it would work here....

 

[codex57]

Not with our legal system and the way too easy driving tests. People can't drive in America. Then, one of the idiots is gonna cause an accident and sue and blame it on everything, including the autobahn. Sucks, but it'll never happen in the US.

 

[skandalous]

Yeah, lawsuits are what's keeping it back. We were learning about some playgrounds the other day. In Europe, they design them however they want to because people don't sue when some kid trips on something, but in the US they'll sue in a heartbeat. Just drawing a parallel between them.

 

[Ghost]

I agree, I don’t think they will work here because of lawsuits. A great number of people don’t take responsibility for their actions. Some people will always place the fault of their actions on someone else. “McDonald’s food made me fat” no, YOU eating McDonald’s food made you fat.

Plus some people just don’t know how to drive. It is my understanding that it takes a year to get your license in Europe, that I like. IMO it increases driver awareness, cuts down on the amount of people that don’t take driving seriously and makes people more mindful that driving is a privilege not a right.

 

[panzershreck]

perhaps a US autobahn but seperate (where you have to have a pass to get on, like a toll-booth system but more than just a dollar or two, but a certified advanced driver's license), with the driver's license built around making the driver as best a driver as is humanly possible during a flexible course...

 

[frolf]

welcome back Fran.

here is my awesome answer that is supposed to make me sound cool:

there already is an autobahn, it's called every road i use!! OHHHHHHH SNAP


haha, wow, its 6:29 local time, and i've already lost my mind.





back on topic, i'd be down for it, but now way in hell all the soccer mom's and know it alls in this country would let anything like that happen. we have safetly labels on everything, and ridiculous laws and a country that VOTES for a president, then does nothing but bitch once he's in office. i would love it, i would use it well, but i'm afraid we will never ever see a road like that.

 

[Epi330]

Plus some people just don?t know how to drive. It is my understanding that it takes a year to get your license in Europe, that I like.

Not sure about Europe, but getting license in US is a joke indeed. Got mine after spending only 10 hours behind the wheel. Was I ready to drive on autobahn? Heck, no! Even lame 65 mph speed limit was too fast for me at first. Well, I did tried to take back roads and avoid dense traffic until I began to feel comfortable enough on "high" speed... but it looks like other dirvers with the same (or less) driving skills do not care much [thumbd]

 

[xLibelle]

i dont think we'd ever see one in the US because its too much a novelty here.

Its always been in europe, hell, the Autobahn in a sense is more than just the major highways over there. It includes practically every road over there that isnt near homes or city. Whenever im over there, it seems that everyone is sensible enough to use it safely.

 

[fran]

The average speed on those autobahns i think is equivalent to 85 mph. and doing that on the interstate will pass most of the cars, well maybe its different since i live in florida? anyhoo, i think that if we had more detailed tests and stiffer requirements maybe we could get accustomed to something such as autobahns. i had driven a car maybe at most for a total time of a half hour-showing my incredible experience behind the wheel-and i passed my test when i was 16 but i had this strange feeling that the dmv proctor was hitting on me throughout my test.


btw, what are the requirments in germany to get a liscence?

 

[Kirby]

In Europe, driving is a privlege and people earn it by taking it seriously and studying. In the US, driving is considered a right.

On the Autobahn, the typical posted speed limit outside of metropolitan areas is 140 kmh, or about 85 mph. In some areas it is unlimited. But in the cities it is much like here in the US - 60 - 70 mph limits, traffic jams at rush hour, stopped traffic, etc.

In general, Europe requires $$$, driving school, tests, etc. From what I have been told it takes about a year and $2500 - $3000 to earn the right to drive.

 

[gizzy]

It will never happen in the U.S. - Just look at Chicago traffic on the tollways - The flow of traffic will be 70 to 80 mph but some idiot will be driving 50-55 in the left lane. I don't know about the driving schools here in the Chicago area, but in Idaho where I grew up, they essensially stated that unless you are in the far right hand lane, you must drive the flow of traffic regardless of the speedlimit (just don't be the one trying to set the flow of traffic).

Closest that you will get is 75 mph speed limits which we already have in several areas (except Illinois ) or Montana and there common sense speed limits.

 

[525ifreak]

We already have an Autobahn in the U.S. It is called Interstate 5. The average speed is about 90mph. My 525i loves the I 5. The only problem with an Autobahn is that you have some dumbass on his cell phone, while watching some Olsen twins movie on his DVD player. This country is to caught up in doing everything else when driving instead of driving.

 

[Wadula]

this is my time

to the geman autobahn: the adviced speed limit is 130 kph (81 mph). there is no state wide restriction, by setup the autobahn is free. however, today´s traffic density urged the state to restrict many of the roads to 120 kph (75 mph). on country roads it is permitted to 100 kph (63 mph). in the city it usually varies from 30 - 70 kph (18 - 43 mph).

to the german license: it really takes about a year to get it. you have to take many hours of theoretical classes to learn rules and behaviour. same is with driving school behind the wheel. you have at least to do some 20+ hours behind the wheel to be permitted for the test. then, when you got it, there is a five years testphase where you are not allowed to get ticketed.

in the US i believe there already are some interstates that are free. in montana if i am not mistaken.

germans see the autobahn, especially as it is the only country left where you can drive as fast as you want as a piece of culture. and it is very rare that people really misuse it. sure, people drive fast. my average speed while traveling is around 125 mph. not the overall average, but when the road is clear that´s where i use to travel. people are aware of the danger and behave like it. and in the end, you can´t sue anyone if you are too fast. it is you who pressed the pedal, not the country.

 

[tool fan]

this is my time

to the geman autobahn: the adviced speed limit is 130 kph (81 mph). there is no state wide restriction, by setup the autobahn is free. however, today´s traffic density urged the state to restrict many of the roads to 120 kph (75 mph). on country roads it is permitted to 100 kph (63 mph). in the city it usually varies from 30 - 70 kph (18 - 43 mph).

to the german license: it really takes about a year to get it. you have to take many hours of theoretical classes to learn rules and behaviour. same is with driving school behind the wheel. you have at least to do some 20+ hours behind the wheel to be permitted for the test. then, when you got it, there is a five years testphase where you are not allowed to get ticketed.

in the US i believe there already are some interstates that are free. in montana if i am not mistaken.

germans see the autobahn, especially as it is the only country left where you can drive as fast as you want as a piece of culture. and it is very rare that people really misuse it. sure, people drive fast. my average speed while traveling is around 125 mph. not the overall average, but when the road is clear that´s where i use to travel. people are aware of the danger and behave like it. and in the end, you can´t sue anyone if you are too fast. it is you who pressed the pedal, not the country.

DAMN Wadula I guess I really can't add 1/2 cent to this one...you covered it all.