Driving on the Autobahn

The German Autobahn has long been a popular attraction with both locals and tourists alike. It showcases the country’s impressive vehicle engineering prowess and it’s not uncommon to see drivers pushing the limits with their BMWs, Mercedes Benz, and Porsche’s. Regardless of the appeal to push the boundaries the Autobahn is not a free-for-all and there are rules and regulations that must be followed.

In the most congested areas there are speed limits in place. These vary depending on the weather and road conditions as well as traffic levels. Outside of these zones the Autobahn really opens up. While it may seem tempting to race down the stretch of road with a few hundred miles per hour, Auto Europe recommends that you avoid doing so for safety reasons.

There is a reason that the German government maintains such a huge network of motorways and they are not without their problems. The construction was carried out by forced labour (including Reich Labor Service convicts) and concentration camp prisoners. This was done in order to help eradicate unemployment in Germany and according to Nazi propaganda helped keep Germans from turning to communism.

While driving on the autobahn it is a good idea to triple check your mirrors before changing lanes. Because cars are traveling so quickly there’s a possibility that someone will be zipping up behind you in an instant. It’s also a good idea to have full comprehensive insurance that covers you in the event of an accident or damage to your car.