Driving in Germany

[Fatneck73]

Hello all

I'm trying to find out where is best to go for a drive. My C6 is itching to stretch its legs!

Am I right in believing that autobahns are 'by default, de restricted unless restricted'????

Anyone know a bahn that is DEFINITELY derestricted...I don't wanna get this wrong coz I'll be far more than 'just a little over the speed limit'!

Any advice / guidance?

[iR8V10]

Just look for what is out National Speed Limit Sign.... That means unrestricted.

If numbers are displayed, there's a limit.... Simples.

[Fatneck73]

Yeah, got that but they don't seem that common - when I went to the ring last year, didn't see any!

[sonny]

Chances was you was actually on a Autobahn that had its restriction in place. IIRC There is only 2 Autobahn sections when driving to the Ring and they are retentively small sections.

Point to note

Default/advisory speed is 130kph (81mph). Like Dave says look out for the National speed limit sign (white circle with 4 black diagonal lines).

Also, certain countries/councils can enforce a speed limit on its part of the Autobahn

[HYFR]

Frankfurt to Munich has some pretty epic stretches .... Raced an S5 in my RS 6 to 180mph on that stretch.

The E42 past Brussels is also good, aka the Belgium Straigts, but that's illegal

[Kiergrills]

Hey Fatneck73

Here is a link to all Autobahns in Germany, and if you use the Screenshot i have attached as a reference you can see all the unrestricted bits.

http://www.autobahnatlas-online.de/Limitkarte.pdf



Cheers

Kiergrills

[Kiergrills]

The Map isn't absolutely correct but its - close enough. The only places you will see an Unrestricted Zone change to an 80 is in Construction Areas and these are marked 2Km before. However, it will it will go from Unrestricted to 100 to 80 or possibly 130 to 100 to 80 (maybe even 60). If one encounters a Non-construction 80Km Limit, he has already been driving in a Limited Area (probably 100).
There are a few other things Foreign Drivers should know before driving on the Autobahn.
It is illegal to pass in the right lane.
The Left Lane is for passing. It doesn't matter at what speed you are driving.Also, faster cars expect priority. Suppose you are driving 180 in the Left Lane and there are slower cars in the Right Lane driving perhaps 150 several hundred meters ahead of you. If an Audi R8, Porsche or whatever comes up on you, it is expected you move over even if it requires you to slow a bit.
On Autobahns with 3 Lanes in each direction, you are required to drive in the Right Lane - not the Middle Lane.
If you suddenly encounter a Traffic Jam, you should operate your Hazard Flashers to warn drivers in back of you.
During Traffic Jams, drivers are required to leave a space between the Left and Right (or Middle) Lanes to allow Emergency Vehicles to pass.
It is illegal to flash headlights or turn on your left turn signal when you are driving behind a slower car in the Left Lane.

[Fatneck73]

This is great. Many thanks

[Graeme4130]

From my experience, the few remaining unrestricted parts (they're becoming less and less) are generally quite busy during the day, so you're best off at night. However, this time of year is a bit dodgy in the evening because of the changeable weather and/or ice and wet (remember, most of the north end of the country is typically colder than the uk)
You're best off to hit it up late spring and get yourself a warmer dry night
Also, Keep a good eye out for numpties too at night as it's harder to gauge the speed of cars in your mirrors at night if you can only see headlamps, and a 70mph car pulling out in front of you at 170 is a scary experience

[toyneg]

From my experience, the few remaining unrestricted parts (they're becoming less and less) are generally quite busy during the day, so you're best off at night. However, this time of year is a bit dodgy in the evening because of the changeable weather and/or ice and wet (remember, most of the north end of the country is typically colder than the uk)
You're best off to hit it up late spring and get yourself a warmer dry night
Also, Keep a good eye out for numpties too at night as it's harder to gauge the speed of cars in your mirrors at night if you can only see headlamps, and a 70mph car pulling out in front of you at 170 is a scary experience

i agree with waiting for Spring, i did this last May and had a lovely warm Saturday eve and the roads were really quiet so i could do a couple of max runs, annoyingly hit the limiter so now i have had that removed i'll go back this year hopefully

[Fatneck73]

Understood and agree. I'm in no rush to get there...just decided after last time that I was going to do my homework this time...couldn't believe how hard it was to get some decent autobahn info!

[TimDogg]

Might be mandated winter tyres also - worth checking.

[Tay56]

Some of the better stretches that I know of which are unrestricted:
Frankfurt am Main (4 lane wide near Airport)
Aachen towards Holland
Stuttgart towards Zingen (A81)
Munich to Ulm