Did anyone watch the programme on C5 last evening about the German Autobahn system?
I loved the bit about it being illegal to flash drivers from behind to get them to move over and that you were 'expected/obliged' to get out of the way for any car approaching from behind that carried a BMW, Audi, Mercedes or VW badge - funny they didn't mention Porche, unless I missed it.
They don't seem to have jam problems as when busy the hard shoulder is made available as an extra lane and in practice works. The road surfaces are in superb condition (2 or 3 times deeper than UK motorways which is the only way to make them last!) Cheaper not always the best then, now there's a surprise. From what I saw there weren't that many trucks in evidence either (Bliss -- sorry truckers)
A very interesting documentary but I still can't decide if I was envious or not. I don't mind moving along a bit but I think I might be a bit concerned being on the same road as some of the characters interviewed --- 185MPH unless I'm mistatken didn't seem uncommon (Some guy even had a car built specially) and if there's a prang and there often is and you are involved its usully curtains! Having said this it does sound good fun in a thrill seeking sort of way!
Any views?
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The Daily Mail got it all wrong this morning - the TV critic thought that ALL German autobahns had unlmited speed limits.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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I wish I'd seen the programme. It's a timely post.
I was unlucky enough to be about 15 cars behind a major accident yesterday, somewhere between Koblenz and Aachen... I couldn't really say if excessive speed was in use. Cause wasn't clear, but an HGV appeared to have clouted the back of a people carrier really REALLY hard and there were two other vehciles involved, including an old Merc which was parked against the Armco facing the wrong way...
Points I noted were:
Two lane motorway with full hard shoulder. 100 kph limit. dry road, sunny.
The waiting traffic split over to hard shoulder and centre barrier to allow emergency vehicles to come down the middle of the two lines (rather than hard shoulder as here)
The first emergency vehicle (police) took nearly 15 minutes to arrive!
Over the next 20 minutes a HUGE array of emergency veicles arrived - I would estimate 8 police vehicles, 6 ambulances and 6/7 fire engines, plus assorted recovery trucks, highway maintenance & cleansing and other vehicles. The air ambulance also arrived.
The road was completely closed for just under 2 hours, then 1 lane re-opened (around the partly jack-knifed HGV)
It seemd a fairly sociable occassion for the waiting drivers. Instead of sitting in their cars fuming, they were out in the sun and having a chat
Regarding autobahn speed, I have been known to cruise at around 130mph + where legal in Germany, but I only do it according to local conditions. That is, if I am approaching a much slower stream of traffic, I reduce my speed to probably no more than 30mph than theirs.. IMO It's the vast speed differential which is dangerous...
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Always thought the prefered method for getting "slow" vechicles out the way on the Autobahn seems to be approach at high speed, apply brakes at last minute, then sit 1 metre off their rear bumper. Start indicating left if they don't get the idea. That said it doesn't seem to be a habit exclusive to Germany, happens quite a lot here in Luxembourg too.
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To be honest I rarely found slower drivers ahead any problem - they are so used to fast traffic coming up behind that they keep proper observation and make life much easier for you by keeping/getting out of the way.
If only it was the same here....:-(
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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To be honest I rarely found slower drivers ahead any problem
You are right and I expect if you are used to autobahn speeds you would be much more aware. I wonder what would happen if the speed limits were abolished at a stroke on Uk motorways - carnage perhaps or am I misjudging?
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While you are absolutely tight in the main, I had one brown trousers moment yesterday when a minibus was indicating to pull in from the outside lane so I carried on without slowing. Obviously not noticing me, and before he'd fully pulled in, he switched his indicator and started to pull out again, only noticing me "just in time" and quickly pulling back in - and I was hard on the brakes by then!
So, while they are much more observant, German drivers make mistakes too...and at very high speeds they are much more likely to be fatal.
btw while in the hold up a Brit living in Germany commented to me that for such a "green" nation they drive in a very un-green way - fierce accelaration, high top speed and late on the brakes. This is very true.
While I'm writing - by far LESS safe (but a great hoot) is the Nurburgring track, which I visited again on Sunday. When I arrived the track was closed due to a BMW having had an ambulance-worthy smash. So when it re-opened I waited for the keenest racers to get onto the track before going on. I came across 3 accidents during my lap! Rather spoilt my lap time (14m 30s, most of it spent looking in my mirror for the loonies)
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Nurburgring is one place I'd love to have a go at but can't seem much opportunity these days.
Been on Donington, Oulton Park, Knock Hill and one or two others - great fun...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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