Should there be a U.s. Autobahn

[JDMaster]

Should the U.S have an autobian. Please post on what you think.U.s Autobain

[[Zero-S]]

No, we have too many idiot drivers.

[hannibal]

We already got one. Its called Montana...

[SeVa-S13]

Unnecessary waste of money on something that serves little purpose and will only serve to foster idiocy. Spend those hundreds of millions on a proper road track and drag strip here in Virginia Beach instead.

[skydragoness]

It's spelled AUTOBAHN! AGH!

And it would never work in a country where the car is the only efficient way of transportation and everyone old, young,smart and stupid can afford one. Plus our current standards of driver instruction are sub-par.

[[Zero-S]]

^ yeah what she said.

[andrave]

I've always thought we should have dedicated autobahnish highways with a "super license" where you have to pay like 5k a year for it or something, and you can drive up to a max of like 120 or 150 or something. Either that or we could change our licensing to be more like germany's. its a hell of a lot safer with all the instruction and wheel time they have to go through. a lot more expensive too.

[stray]

No, not until we improve drivers training and make it harder to get a license in general.

[Meantime]

We already got one. Its called Montana...

^ ^ ^

what he said.

[spec-u-later]

No we shouldn't...but I wish we did.

[Cold_Zero]

It's spelled AUTOBAHN! AGH!.

I fixed it for him.

[navysnail]

i have a friend from germany, he says in drivers ed, they have to be able to comfotably drive 120+, and its not that dangerous because everyone knows what everyone is planing on doing as far as lane changes, ect...

[[Zero-S]]

120+ can be nerve racking for the less experienced. You have to be quick to keep with something as demanding.

[RMiller]

Unnecessary waste of money on something that serves little purpose and will only serve to foster idiocy. Spend those hundreds of millions on a proper road track and drag strip here in Virginia Beach instead.

What are the Autobahn specs, it's something-teen inches, I think. I also think that those specs make it last much longer, though, so they would be replaced less. In the long run(not even that long) it wouldn't be much more.

I think there should be different "levels" of licenses, based on experience and skill, and they could drive on the faster roads. That'd be sweet. Or maybe I'll buy an autogyro and fly around in that.

[szh]

Driving fast in the US is dangerous due to the idiot left-lane hogs that drive slowly and pass on the right, etc.

However, I am in favor of a controlled approach: allow people who have passed special driving tests (and car exams) to go on the designated high-speed roads with special plates.

Z

[RMiller]

Oops someone already said that. My bad.

[Scorch]

cars a top speed consume 50% more gas than cars going at 50-70. in an age where gas prices are outrageous, i dont think this is gonna happen anytime soon. not to mention the emmisions that will be produced when all that extra fuel is burned.would be cool as hell though, and that liscense idea should be implemented anyway.

[StrangeLove]

cars a top speed consume 50% more gas than cars going at 50-70. in an age where gas prices are outrageous, i dont think this is gonna happen anytime soon. not to mention the emmisions that will be produced when all that extra fuel is burned.would be cool as hell though, and that liscense idea should be implemented anyway.

But, you are traveling a greater distance in a shorter amount of time. That makes up for the amount of fuel being consumed. I've always thought that internal combustion engines were much more efficient at higher speeds...

[navysnail]

air resistance, higher rpm's, engines are most efficient at 55mph.

[Hijacker]

I fixed it for him.

i liked it better spelled as autobain

[Hijacker]

one state actually implemented a no speed limit high way to test it. Some idiots in a couple of 911's ruined it when they were clocked around 150+. While it may say "No speed limit" it actually means "Within reason"

[szh]

But, you are traveling a greater distance in a shorter amount of time. That makes up for the amount of fuel being consumed.

Uh ... not really.

"Miles per gallon" is a very clear measure - for a given fixed distance, the gallons to travel it will be lower for lower speeds.

Has to do with increased power requirements needed to overcome air-resistance, and other factors, that go up more than linearly with speed.

Z

[andrave]

I don't see what MPG has to do with it when the government continues to allow SUV's that get 10 and 15 mpg (and hell its not like an STI does much better) when we have the technology to produce cars like the prius. I rode with a woman I know on a 5 hours trip and paid her for gas. It was a little over 5 dollars to top off her tank, which was full when we started.

[I30T]

Germany charges like $2000 to get a license in order to drive on the autobahn, but regardless, people here suck at driving. its a bad idea.

[Nismo_Freak]

more than linearly with speed.

Z

Exponentially

And as usual I'm right on with what Sky had to say.

I've been to Germany, driven the Autobahn, and for the most part everyone drives by the book. Pass on the left lane, immediately get over after passing. In the US people view the left lane as the "fast lane"... just not the same. German's also do not drive on the right most lane either for the most part unless they are exiting or merging. Very good drivers (although you have your idiots time to time) but the caliber of driver in Germany is alot better than here in the US (and neighboring countries for that matter lol).

The pace on the 'bahn for the most part was right around 65-80mph like any US highway because of the cost of fuel in Germany, that and people in general don't feel safe above those speeds.

I saw about 5 cars doing 100+ the whole time I was there... one was a dark blue RUF CTR2 that was EASILY doing 150mph just outside of Munchen. The damn thing nearly blew us over into the next lane. The other cars were less spectacular, however I did see a Lotus Omega and a Cossie clockin 100+mph each tryin to catch that RUF lol! They were getting burned to say the least.

[Nismo_Freak]

I don't see what MPG has to do with it when the government continues to allow SUV's that get 10 and 15 mpg (and hell its not like an STI does much better) when we have the technology to produce cars like the prius. I rode with a woman I know on a 5 hours trip and paid her for gas. It was a little over 5 dollars to top off her tank, which was full when we started.

It's easy to understand how the government allows it.

You buy a $18,000 Prius that gets 40mpg vs. a $36,000 SUV that gets 20mpg (figures for ease of math lol)

Not only does the government get twice the tax money from the sales tax of the car, but the government also gets twice the tax revenues from the sale of gasoline to the car. I think if the EPA granted a discounted passing rate and an incentive to the buyer the Prius's and Honda Hybrid's would be more popular. Hell if I drove 500 miles a week I'd DEFINATELY buy a Honda Hybrid. So it's slow but it uses 1/10th the fuel my 240 does.

[szh]

I've been to Germany, driven the Autobahn, and for the most part everyone drives by the book. Pass on the left lane, immediately get over after passing.

Exactly!Quote » Very good drivers (although you have your idiots time to time) but the caliber of driver in Germany is alot better than here in the US (and neighboring countries for that matter lol).[/quote]

Darwin's "Natural Selection" works!

The inept non-German European drivers are taken off the side of the road by German ambulances. They usually wipe out pretty spectacularly ...

Z

[EZcheese15]

First of all, some things to state:

Montanna *DOES* have a speed limit. For awhile, after the federally controlled speed limit was lifted, Montanna's speed limit was "reasonable and prudent." However, it was very quickly changed to what it currently is (75 mph if I remember correctly).

As far as having no speed limit goes...it's only a good idea if you have the education to back it. It works in Germany because the driving tests are much more difficult. Give a driving test as hard as any county in Europe, and only 5% of americans would be driving.

Also, the deal with gas being expensive, yada yada yada. Suck it up. We are still cheaper than 99% of the world. I wish they would raise prices even more. It would get the people who don't like to drive off the roads. If it was $5/gallon, the only people driving would be people who like to drive (and who usually *can* drive).

Finally, the whole deal with car companies making SULEV's and ZEV's vs. SUV's that suck up a ton of gas...

The governement requires car manufacturer's to meet a CAFE requirement. The requirement is that the average fuel consumption of a product line must be at a certain point (I think the federal standard is 25 mpg). Any manufacturer who does not meet this requirement is required to pay a gas guzzler tax (such as Ferrari, Hummer, Lamborghini, etc). You know why the engineered the Chevy Corvette to get 26 mpg? It's because it counteracts the fact that the Tahoe only gets like 15 mpg. Chevy has to produce enough vehicles in their product line that average out the SUV's so that they don't have to pay gas guzzler taxes, because that is not a good way to attract customers.

Anyway, you guys should read up on http://www.motorists.org (NMA) as well as http://www.epa.gov (EPA) and look at information on speed limits and emissions.

[Bubba1]

Hmmm. an US autobahn. a nice thought but it'll never happen.Way too many poor drivers, plus insurance would skyrocket when people start crashing and dying (which is more common when speeds exceed 100 mph. The special license is also a fun idea, but impractical. There would be no way for an officer to determine a special license holder from non-special license holder unless pulled over.

[EZcheese15]

A special license can easily be done. Just modify the license plates accordingly.

However, i don't believe in the idea for a different reason. Speed doesn't kill. It's the difference in speed that kills. So what if you are an excellent driver and can control your car in a drift doing 180 mph. Grandma that pulls out in front of you at 30 mph is what is gonna kill both of you.