German Autobahn system recommended speed limit 81 MPH

German Autobahn system recommended speed limit

Are you familiar with the German Autobahn system?

With news that Texas approves 85 MPH on a certain stretch of a toll road, comparison to the German Autobahn system were inevitable but there are really two completely different animals.

The German Autobahn system cover over 6,500 miles and many people erroneously believe that the entire autobahn has no speed limit.

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That’s not entirely true.

German Autobahn system 81 MPH

The German Autobahn system recommended speed limit 81 MPH can actually vary depending on what stretch of road you are diving on.

There are posted signs of a recommended speed limit of 81 MPH, which many drivers exceed, along most of the stretch however there are portions in which there is an actual speed limit.

The A5 Autobahn near Frankfurt at Main. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

The German Autobahn system recommended speed limits of 81MPH are not valid at a few dangerous stretches and sometimes there is an actual posted speed limit of 62 MPH.

German Autobahn system not truly unlimited

Contrary to popular belief, there are patrols to catch violators but not the kind of patrols you might expect.

They have “Autobahnpolizei” which is the term for the German Highway Patrol.

According to the German Way,

Besides unmarked police cars (with video cameras to verify violations), one of the weapons in their arsenal is the “automated police officer.” Along certain stretches of autobahn or highway (Bundesstraße), usually in high-traffic areas, special radar-linked police cameras are stationed over the roadway or on the side of the highway ready to take a revealing snapshot of you and your car at any time of the day or night. Displayed prominently in this special photograph, besides you and your car, is a record of your speed, the date, the time, and the location. Drivers don’t even know what happened until their photographic speeding ticket arrives in the mail a few days later. Although some have tried, these incriminating photos are difficult to fight, and German courts have ruled that the “camera police” are perfectly legal. The photographic police are also located at city intersections to catch drivers who run red light

These automated photos have caused a lot of embarrassment over the years with spouses seeing photos that the offending spouse wouldn’t want them to see.

Because of the backlash, the police have stopped sending the actual photos to the offender’s home. A traffic ticket arrives in the mail, sans photo, and the person ticketed visits the police station to view the photo and they can also protest the charges.

So while the German Autobahn system recommended speed limit is 81MPH, it is truly a misconception that it is completely unlimited.

If you are going to driving along the Autobahn, “The Rules of the Autobahn” is a great resource.

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