This guy made himself the work to bring a map online for every single km of German Autobahn. It is in German only, but you can check for every km whether there is a speed limit, how many lanes there are, what extensions are planned and so on...
Maybe the final proof that cars are too important in our country
It is 18. However, I do not know whether you are allowed to drive with 16 under a US license, with 18 years the US license should be accepted, even though there are differences from US state to US state...
Renting a car is something different, however... When you are 18 you will have problems getting something "interesting". A nice Mercedes, BMW, VW or Audi with a good engine requires that you are somewhat older. I do not know the actual rules, but don't expect to be allowed to rent a car which goes in excess of 200km/h (140 MPH?) when you are 18...
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5745 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1495 times:
Actually a pretty cool site - should be interesting to plot the "usual" route my family take when we cruise down through Germany on our way to Italy or France for our summer holiday.
Off the top of my head, it's A1 from Puttgarden to Hamburg, A7 to the linkup with A5 (around Frankfurt?) and then straight on to Mulhausen or Basel depending on where we are going.
Thorben From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1455 times:
I'll do a lot of km on the A2 today. With that weather out there I won't go faster than 120km/h (75mph). The no-speed-limit thing is nice sometimes, but when you already go 200km/h (125mph) and some idiot in his ugly Audi drives less than 3m (10 feet) behind you, you sometimes wonder how much sense it really makes. In these moments I also wonder why I am against the death penalty.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1433 times:
Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 3): It is 18. However, I do not know whether you are allowed to drive with 16 under a US license, with 18 years the US license should be accepted, even though there are differences from US state to US state...
With a US license, you still have to be 18 to drive in Germany
Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 3): Renting a car is something different, however... When you are 18 you will have problems getting something "interesting". A nice Mercedes, BMW, VW or Audi with a good engine requires that you are somewhat older. I do not know the actual rules, but don't expect to be allowed to rent a car which goes in excess of 200km/h (140 MPH?) when you are 18...
The magic number in Germany for renting a car is 21. You can rent pretty much anything other than an ultra-premium S-Class/7 Series/911 at 21. In 2002 I was in Europe and some friends and I rented a 525d to drive Berlin-Koeln-Berlin over a weekend. I took it to over 230km/h and it was great. BTW, 200 km/h is only 125 mph
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
PanHAM From Germany, joined May 2005, 7771 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1413 times:
Quoting Thorben (Reply 5): The no-speed-limit thing is nice sometimes, but when you already go 200km/h (125mph) and some idiot in his ugly Audi drives less than 3m (10 feet) behind you, you sometimes wonder how much sense it really makes. In these moments I also wonder why I am against the death penalty.
I am heading off for Gotha now, some 250 km but the driving conditions are not that great today.
It has been said already, there are speed limits on many stretches of the Autobahn and ypou better watch that closely. BTW - I hate these guys driving 3 meters in front of my A6 at the speed of 200, not letting me pass.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1378 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 10): Must be Americans with rental cars, because normally Germans drive using perfect ettiquite
Left-lane parking is a great way of being pulled over, ticketed, or even blown off the road in Europe. People will actually call the police on their cell phones and give them the licence plate numbers of people who will not get out of the left lane to let people pass.
Aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8357 posts, RR: 47 Reply 12, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1373 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 10): normally Germans drive using perfect ettiquite
You are familiar with 78-year-old Hans in his 1980s Ford Sierra, wearing "that" cap? That guy just knows the way everyone is required to drive, and he knows he has to educate them. That basically means "No faster than 120 km/h in the fast lane and no passing me!"
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 13, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days ago) and read 1360 times:
Quoting Aloges (Reply 12): You are familiar with 78-year-old Hans in his 1980s Ford Sierra, wearing "that" cap? That guy just knows the way everyone is required to drive, and he knows he has to educate them. That basically means "No faster than 120 km/h in the fast lane and no passing me!"
Well Achim, someone should tell him that HE is the one being unsafe, particularly when a Porsche has to haul down from 260 km/h with cars following it at similar speed
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8357 posts, RR: 47 Reply 14, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days ago) and read 1355 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 13): Well Achim, someone should tell him that HE is the one being unsafe
In just about every survey on things that tick drivers off, lane hoggers and know-it-alls score the top spots, and the police seem to be cracking down on it more now. After all, few things are more dangerous than irate drivers who want to legally drive fast and are obstructed by self-proclaimed "teachers".
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3347 posts, RR: 30 Reply 15, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days ago) and read 1348 times:
Actually, the ADAC (German car club), the biggest car club in Germany and a big lobby organisation (like the US gun industry!) started a campaign against people who drive slowly in the left or middle lane... The message was something like "They prevent us from driving fast, stop them!"
I agree with them. There is nothing worse than somebody driving in the middle when the right lane is free.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25852 posts, RR: 79 Reply 16, posted (7 years 4 months 4 days ago) and read 1341 times:
Quoting Aloges (Reply 14): and the police seem to be cracking down on it more now.
German police are famous for cracking down on the violations that actually cause accidents. They don't mind speed and they focus on recklessness, passing on the right and impeeding. I wish US cops would do the same
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3347 posts, RR: 30 Reply 20, posted (7 years 4 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1324 times:
Click onto "Legende", everything is explained there (in German, however):
(100) Zeitlich beschränktes Tempolimit (Zeitspanne im blauen Kasten) Means speed limits during certain times (shown in parentesis)
<100> Verkehrsbeeinflussungsanlage: Anzeige bei guten Verkehrsbedingungen: Dynamic speed control unit: The speed limit is regulated according to the traffic. The number inside shows the highest possible speed limit on this part of the street. That means, that if there is written 100, you are not allowed to drive faster than 100 at any time.
< x > Means that highest speed is either unknown, or there is no speed limit when there is no traffic.
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In just about every survey on things that tick drivers off, lane hoggers and know-it-alls score the top spots, and the police seem to be cracking down on it more now. After all, few things are more dangerous than irate drivers who want to legally drive fast and are obstructed by self-proclaimed "teachers".
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