#autobahn

beautiful sunset

Did you know, that Germany is the only country in this world that has no general speed limit on its autobahn?

The sign in the middle signals the end of all speed and passing limits, which means you are allowed to drive as fast as you or your car can. You can drive more than 200 km/h without getting in trouble with the police. When there is no speed limit, there is only an advisory speed limit of 130 km/h. 

Why is there no speed limit? 

This is hard to answer. It’s probably comparable to the gun law situation in the US. Everybody knows that extreme speeds could kill and are bad for the environment. On the other hand, the opponents protect that little peace of freedom.

These opponents are the right wing parties, the car building companies as well as a large automobile club with over 18 million members. In favour of speed limits are the left wing parties as well as environmental associations. 

In case you are wondering, whether the left wing parties actually push the speed limit to become a law, when forming the government: nope—they don’t. This topic is only in their parties’ programs before elections. After elections the topic is never really discussed in the Federal Parliament. I am afraid the lobbyists do a good job protecting the freedom of speed.