Why doesnt the U.S. have freeways, like the German Autobahn, with no general speed limit? (Seems a little ironic, given American freedom-loving mentality versus staid German conservatism!) In more or less decreasing order of importance, why America cannot handle high-speed autobahn-type freeways: (1) Car control. Its too easy to get a drivers license in America, i.e., formal car control courses are not required and are required for speeds greater than 70 or 80 mph / 130 kph. Car dynamics change radically once you start to exceed 90 and 100 mph / 140-160 kph, especially with respect to suspension (bumps) and aerodynamics, especially in cars that arent properly designed for high-speed driving. To wit: it is far more difficult to get a drivers license in Germany. (2) Driving etiquette and rules. In addition to formal car control classes, proper driving etiquette and rules need to be enforced beyond merely signal to switch lanes, look over shoulder, etc. For example: left lane for passing ONLY. A big reason the autobahn works in Germany is because people religiously obey the lane rules: you keep as far to the right as possible, and use left lanes for passing ONLY. (3) American culture. Most Americans mentality towards driving cannot handle the far greater responsibility required by higher speed limits, let alone derestricted stretches of highway. Combine this with a general sense of entitlement (think large SUV sitting in the passing lane doing 55 mph while surrounding traffic is doing 65) and part of the problem is clearly cultural. (4) Road construction. German autobahns are an engineering marvel of road surface construction: they are unbelievably well maintained, smooth, and with none of the poorly constructed undulations, bumps, and dips of American freeways (not to mention wheel-rim bending potholes!).
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 03:16:53 +0000
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