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I'm shocked that a speed limit of 130km/h would have that much of an impact. I very rarely see cars operating beyond 130, usually only for occasional passing. N

I'm shocked that a speed limit of 130km/h would have that much of an impact. I very rarely see cars operating beyond 130, usually only for occasional passing. Normal speed is closer to 110.

the-dude 5y ago
Do you drive in Germany?
- verst 5y ago
  In Germany everyone drives above 130km/h (~80mph) on the sections of the Autobahn that do not have speed limits. When I was 18 I always floored my crappy very old Ford Fiesta going around 158 km/h (on a good day, downhill and probably with a tailwind haha). Driving my family's nicer cars I frequently drove 200+ km/h. When there is a good amount of traffic I would see a more realistic average speed of 160 km/h.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - freemint 5y ago
    My mother certainly doesn't. If "everyone" is "everyone in my social cirlce" i would like to learn more about these circles as i know nobody who drives over 130 Km/h.
    - verst 5y ago
      The majority of drivers who grew up near the sections without speed limit then.
- oh_sigh 5y ago
  Yes, west of stuttgart for the most part on 8. Maybe it's different elsewhere.
un_montagnard 5y ago
If you're driving below 150km/h on the middle or left lane in Germany, you're actively putting yourself in danger.
- _ph_ 5y ago
  No, you are not. You shouldn't suddenly move to a lane left of you without checking that there is no faster traffic oncoming though. And you might move right, if possible. But it is not a special danger.
- meibo 5y ago
  I'm not sure why you are getting downvoted, this is absolutely true on even just a semi-active Autobahn. Feels like people are actively out for you at that point, you'll have close-calls and will get nearly rear-ended by some Audi that wants to switch lanes where it shouldn't in no time.
_ph_ 5y ago
It much depends on the traffic volume. On 3 lane segments, the speed often is higher, but in the typical commuter traffic it is quite slow.
akmarinov 5y ago
Maybe in the US, but that’s not the case in most places in Europe.
- jandrewrogers 5y ago
  It isn't true in the US either. A large region of the country has 130 km/h limits, and those limits are only loosely enforced. I've lived in regions of the US where 140 km/h is the typical highway driving speed. Experience can vary widely depending where on the continent one lives. Some states do have low speed limits.
lucb1e 5y ago
> Normal speed is closer to 110. Average, you might be right. Many people definitely drive a lot faster (I guess that's where the sibling comments "do you drive in germany" come from), but then they get stuck behind an overtaking truck etc., and then there are people driving slower so the average speed across all lanes might very well be 110 at busy times (and of course you're most likely to drive when it's busy, so that's what you'd observe). The problem (emissions) might be from accelerating up to 150, then back down because someone driving 120 is overtaking someone else, the person behind you also has to brake, and repeat.

I'm shocked that a speed limit of 130km/h would have that much of an impact. I very rarely see cars operating beyond 130, usually only for occasional passing. Normal speed is closer to 110.

the-dude 5y ago

Do you drive in Germany?

verst 5y ago
In Germany everyone drives above 130km/h (~80mph) on the sections of the Autobahn that do not have speed limits. When I was 18 I always floored my crappy very old Ford Fiesta going around 158 km/h (on a good day, downhill and probably with a tailwind haha). Driving my family's nicer cars I frequently drove 200+ km/h. When there is a good amount of traffic I would see a more realistic average speed of 160 km/h.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- freemint 5y ago
  My mother certainly doesn't. If "everyone" is "everyone in my social cirlce" i would like to learn more about these circles as i know nobody who drives over 130 Km/h.
  - verst 5y ago
    The majority of drivers who grew up near the sections without speed limit then.
oh_sigh 5y ago
Yes, west of stuttgart for the most part on 8. Maybe it's different elsewhere.

un_montagnard 5y ago

If you're driving below 150km/h on the middle or left lane in Germany, you're actively putting yourself in danger.

_ph_ 5y ago
No, you are not. You shouldn't suddenly move to a lane left of you without checking that there is no faster traffic oncoming though. And you might move right, if possible. But it is not a special danger.
meibo 5y ago
I'm not sure why you are getting downvoted, this is absolutely true on even just a semi-active Autobahn. Feels like people are actively out for you at that point, you'll have close-calls and will get nearly rear-ended by some Audi that wants to switch lanes where it shouldn't in no time.

_ph_ 5y ago

It much depends on the traffic volume. On 3 lane segments, the speed often is higher, but in the typical commuter traffic it is quite slow.

akmarinov 5y ago

Maybe in the US, but that’s not the case in most places in Europe.

jandrewrogers 5y ago
It isn't true in the US either. A large region of the country has 130 km/h limits, and those limits are only loosely enforced. I've lived in regions of the US where 140 km/h is the typical highway driving speed. Experience can vary widely depending where on the continent one lives. Some states do have low speed limits.

lucb1e 5y ago

> Normal speed is closer to 110. Average, you might be right. Many people definitely drive a lot faster (I guess that's where the sibling comments "do you drive in germany" come from), but then they get stuck behind an overtaking truck etc., and then there are people driving slower so the average speed across all lanes might very well be 110 at busy times (and of course you're most likely to drive when it's busy, so that's what you'd observe). The problem (emissions) might be from accelerating up to 150, then back down because someone driving 120 is overtaking someone else, the person behind you also has to brake, and repeat.