[tensorturtle]

Proponents of unlimited speed Autobahn could argue: 1. The tourism value: I anecdotally know people visit Germany just for the Autobahn. (See Nürburgring, which is technically an Autobahn) 2. Sale of performance cars: The high actual minimum speed (from my experience you need to drive at around 150km/h in the middle lane, and 180-200km/h to pass on the left lane). Almost anywhere else in the world, the top speed of cars is irrelevant. In Germany, however, high performance cars (inevitably, German brand ones) can be desired for their better handling at speeds at or above 200km/h. 3. Germans collectively have excellent driving mannerisms and skills which were a result of unlimited speed. It is probably true that enforcing a speed limit today would decrease deaths, but the next generation would then regress to the mean. I would be interested to see someone quantify the above points and compare them with the economic costs discussed in the OP article.

[MaxMatti]

Blaming the safe driving of Germans on the danger of the Autobahn just baffles me. The driving style of Germans has everything to do with the process of obtaining a driving license in Germany as well as the strict (and properly enforced) traffic laws and harsh fines - most violations will get you points towards losing your license and in some extreme cases you might even be barred from obtaining a new driving license after losing yours. All that creates an environment where driving is viewed as an activity that requires a lot of attention and farsightedness. Being able to drive fast on the Autobahn has nothing to do with it simply because this driving style not only applies to the Autobahn but also to cities and smaller country roads.

[AnonymousPlanet]

You have it the wrong way around. The fact that German drivers have to go through rigorous driving lessons by a licensed teacher is the reason they are allowed higher speeds. If your driving license can be obtained by scooting around for a couple of hours with your dad at your side and then do a DMV test that consists of driving once around the block, you shouldn't be allowed to drive at dangerous speeds.

[precommunicator]

Well, but minutes after obtaining such license you can literally board a plane to Germany and go drive 200 km/h, the only obstacle being rental companies policies, which, if you have enough money, can be skipped. And personally, after having a license from another EU country for less than 2 months when I first drove in my car in Germany, I definitely didn't feel prepared.

[rad_gruchalski]

> Germans collectively have excellent driving mannerisms and skills

Myth number 6.

[angry_octet]

Half true: skill level is likely the same as any first world population, but they do have very good lane procedure: you won't often find slow cars in the fast lane, or people overtaking those rare instances via the slow lane. They will honk and flash if you're slow in the fast lane, but by German standards that too is correct. I've never had someone passive-agressive brake in front of me for wanting to overtake, or speeding up in the overtaking lane, things that happen too often in the US.

[ygra]

The Nürburgring is a private road and does not meet criteria for calling it an Autobahn (it's a one-way road without lanes, which kinda rules out Autobahn-ness).

[rad_gruchalski]

It’s a closed toll road with two lane one way traffic but without markings. Overtaking only on the left, after overtake one should go back to the right. There’s no such thing as racing line. There are a couple of speed limits: 70kph by the exit in Breidscheid and 120kph on the Döttinger Höhe, before exit to the Touristenfahrten car park (going down to 50kph right before the exit).

During Terroristenfahrten, regular traffic rules of a two lane single direction road apply.