Autobahn (Germany)

Autobahn. The federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official German term is Bundesautobahn (abbreviated BAB), which translates as ‘federal motorway.’ There are about 8,000 miles (13,000 km) of Autobahn in Germany.

Much of the system has no speed limit for some classes of vehicles. However, limits are posted and enforced in areas that are urbanized, substandard, accident-prone, or under construction. On speed-unrestricted stretches, an advisory speed limit  (Richtgeschwindigkeit) of 130 kilometers per hour (81 mph) applies.

While driving faster is not illegal in the absence of a speed limit, it can cause an increased liability in the case of a collision (which mandatory auto insurance has to cover); courts have ruled that an “ideal driver” who is exempt from absolute liability for “inevitable” tort under the law would not exceed the advisory speed limit. Measurements in 2006 showed average speeds of 88 mph (142 km/h) on a 6-lane section of Autobahn in free-flowing conditions.