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Re: Unfair speed limits



John W. Kale (jwk3@po.CWRU.Edu) wrote:

: In a previous article, brindle@lf.hp.com (Mark Brindle) says:

: >I agree that speed differential is a concern;  but, the *MAIN*
: >cause of accidents is driver inattention and/or incompetence.
: >Speed differentials on the German autobahns are *ENORMOUS* --
: >closing speeds of well over 100 mph are commonplace;  yet, the
:                                                        ^^^^^^^^
: >accident rates are lower than on US interstates.
: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

: 	This isn't a flame, but could you give a source or a citation
: or something to back this up? I was actually arguing one side or another
: of this subject with someone once, and I was unable to find any stats for
: autobahn accident rates. I'm honestly interested.

I don't have any stats, but from what I saw when I was in Germany, the 
fatality rates for accidents on the Autobahn were appaling. The debris 
from a single accident could stretch for 3/4 of a kilometer. If you saw a 
relatively fresh accident, what was left couldn't be identified as an 
automobile.

Germany requires private driver training which includes physics and other 
essentials that indoctrinate good driving habits. Driving tests are more 
frequent. Imagine unlimited speed limits in a country where drivers don't 
even turn their heads to see if there's another car right next to them. 

Let alone one coming at them at 100+mph faster than they're going. 

Not that I wouldn't mind unlimited speeds if I was the only one on the 
road. Or everyone on the road was SCCA certified.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steph Greenberg                       
steph@primenet.com           "Every Friday is a prelude to Monday." 
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