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That part also exists in Germany. The 100kph on the "Landstrasse" - which does not mean two lane highway, it could simply be the road connecting two small towns

That part also exists in Germany. The 100kph on the "Landstrasse" - which does not mean two lane highway, it could simply be the road connecting two small towns that doesn't look much different from the road in town except for no houses on either side - only applies to cars. Trucks have an automatic limit of 80kph. That is sooo dumb! Lots and lots of accidents because cars get stuck behind trucks and get aggravated. Especially on one lane ones that have enough traffic to make passing almost impossible. And since this is Germany, most of these aren't straight like you might expect from the US. These are usually very meandering, which makes it real hard to pass those trucks. And never mind the actual highways, where there's no speed limit unless posted. And trucks still can only go 80kph. So you have 2 lane Autobahn. Trucks at 80-99kph on the right lane. 90-200kph cars on the left lane. The trucks that go 80 will have a bunch of trucks that want to go 90 trying to pass them. Then add the ups and downs where even the 90kph truck that's passing will slow to 75. Even if you're only cruising at 150kph (actually a pretty nice cruising speed), if you come up on an "elephant race" as they call it behind a bend in the road it's not fun. This extends to 3 lane highways too. Just that now you actually have cars switching from the middle lane to the left lane, because one truck is passing another. So you have an 80kph truck on the right, 90kph truck on the middle lane and a 100kph car in the left lane and the 200kph Mercedes or BMW approaching from the rear.

cycomanic 5y ago
Truck have a massively higher kinetic energy. Therefore they have different regulations. I really wouldn't want trucks driving around with 130km/h (let's not even speak about the environmental impact). The big issue with trucks in Germany is that Germany is a transit country and with just in time delivery freight trafic on the roads increased massively. So there are many more trucks on the road than originally planned for.
- tharkun__ 5y ago
  The weird thing is that in Germany you have these competing speeds that make driving worse for everyone. That 20kph difference is responsible for a lot of bad behavior on smaller roads. On the Autobahn the differences are even bigger, even if there's more space (a second lane) but then like you mentioned there is a lot of traffic. In the US and Canada for example the speed limit is just the same. Everyone goes at 100kph in Canada, truck or no truck. While you have people speeding there as well obviously, everyone is sort of going at the same speed.
  - leetcrew 5y ago
    it varies a lot by region in the US. in NJ, everyone is going about the same speed, but way over the limit. people seem to be pretty good about staying out of the passing lane in light traffic. in VA, everyone does seem to more or less go the speed limit. in MD, it's utter chaos. you'll see a minivan going exactly the speed limit in the left lane, people passing it 10-20 mph over the limit, and wild people weaving in and out of exit lanes to pass everyone else at even higher speeds. that's my experience anyway.
- mschuster91 5y ago
  Another major part of the problem is that driving on highways and since 2018 also Bundesstraßen (basically, Landstraßen with regional importance) costs tolls, and truckers try to save toll wherever they can.

cycomanic 5y ago

Truck have a massively higher kinetic energy. Therefore they have different regulations. I really wouldn't want trucks driving around with 130km/h (let's not even speak about the environmental impact). The big issue with trucks in Germany is that Germany is a transit country and with just in time delivery freight trafic on the roads increased massively. So there are many more trucks on the road than originally planned for.

tharkun__ 5y ago
The weird thing is that in Germany you have these competing speeds that make driving worse for everyone. That 20kph difference is responsible for a lot of bad behavior on smaller roads. On the Autobahn the differences are even bigger, even if there's more space (a second lane) but then like you mentioned there is a lot of traffic. In the US and Canada for example the speed limit is just the same. Everyone goes at 100kph in Canada, truck or no truck. While you have people speeding there as well obviously, everyone is sort of going at the same speed.
- leetcrew 5y ago
  it varies a lot by region in the US. in NJ, everyone is going about the same speed, but way over the limit. people seem to be pretty good about staying out of the passing lane in light traffic. in VA, everyone does seem to more or less go the speed limit. in MD, it's utter chaos. you'll see a minivan going exactly the speed limit in the left lane, people passing it 10-20 mph over the limit, and wild people weaving in and out of exit lanes to pass everyone else at even higher speeds. that's my experience anyway.
mschuster91 5y ago
Another major part of the problem is that driving on highways and since 2018 also Bundesstraßen (basically, Landstraßen with regional importance) costs tolls, and truckers try to save toll wherever they can.