Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
Feb 27th 2004, 6:19 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
By John Burgess
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
His speed was not unusual on the long stretches of German highways,
where drivers can legally go as fast as they want: about 155 mph.
As he closed in on the Kia, a court later found, he flashed his
headlights to signal he wanted the lane cleared. But the woman driving
the Kia apparently became spooked. She swerved, lost control and went
off the road, striking two trees. She and her daughter died instantly.
Last week, after a trial covered closely by the German news media, a
court convicted Fischer of negligent manslaughter in the July 2003
deaths and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
Germany's world-famous right to speed was not on trial, but its
opponents have seized on the verdict to renew long-standing demands
for controls. Senior politicians in the ruling Social Democrat-Green
coalition have declared that the time has come for limits, arguing
that it's only common sense that slowing down would save lives.
...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Feb27.html
By John Burgess
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
His speed was not unusual on the long stretches of German highways,
where drivers can legally go as fast as they want: about 155 mph.
As he closed in on the Kia, a court later found, he flashed his
headlights to signal he wanted the lane cleared. But the woman driving
the Kia apparently became spooked. She swerved, lost control and went
off the road, striking two trees. She and her daughter died instantly.
Last week, after a trial covered closely by the German news media, a
court convicted Fischer of negligent manslaughter in the July 2003
deaths and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
Germany's world-famous right to speed was not on trial, but its
opponents have seized on the verdict to renew long-standing demands
for controls. Senior politicians in the ruling Social Democrat-Green
coalition have declared that the time has come for limits, arguing
that it's only common sense that slowing down would save lives.
...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Feb27.html
Feb 27th 2004, 8:03 pm
#2
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Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion
Tam schrieb:
>
> Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
>
> By John Burgess
> Washington Post Foreign Service
> Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
>
> BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
>
> Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
>
> By John Burgess
> Washington Post Foreign Service
> Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
>
> BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
Feb 27th 2004, 11:18 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
"Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Tam schrieb:
> >
> > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> >
> > By John Burgess
> > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> >
> > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
No and yes.
My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance "filler"
material to be used when and if space became available.
news:[email protected]...
> Tam schrieb:
> >
> > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> >
> > By John Burgess
> > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> >
> > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
No and yes.
My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance "filler"
material to be used when and if space became available.
Feb 28th 2004, 12:56 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
In article <[email protected]>, R J Carpenter
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Tam schrieb:
> > >
> > > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> > >
> > > By John Burgess
> > > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> > >
> > > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> > > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> > > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> >
> > It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
>
> No and yes.
>
> My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance "filler"
> material to be used when and if space became available.
>
>
At this point it is just a tragic auto accident, do you know how many
of these happen everyday ?
How many pages should the newspaper have ?
jay
Sat Feb 28, 2004
mailto:[email protected]
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Tam schrieb:
> > >
> > > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> > >
> > > By John Burgess
> > > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> > >
> > > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> > > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> > > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> >
> > It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
>
> No and yes.
>
> My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance "filler"
> material to be used when and if space became available.
>
>
At this point it is just a tragic auto accident, do you know how many
of these happen everyday ?
How many pages should the newspaper have ?
jay
Sat Feb 28, 2004
mailto:[email protected]
Feb 28th 2004, 2:02 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
The Post should do more stories on the crazy and reckless drivers on the
Washington DC roads instead of talking about the Autobahn. The idiots who
tailgate on the beltway doing 90 mph causing accidents galore are more of a
problem to the Post readers than this guy.
Pan
"Go Fig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:280220040556272357%[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, R J Carpenter
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > > Tam schrieb:
> > > >
> > > > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> > > >
> > > > By John Burgess
> > > > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > > > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> > > >
> > > > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her
2-year-old
> > > > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> > > > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > > > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> > >
> > > It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
> >
> > No and yes.
> >
> > My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance
"filler"
> > material to be used when and if space became available.
> >
> >
> At this point it is just a tragic auto accident, do you know how many
> of these happen everyday ?
> How many pages should the newspaper have ?
> jay
> Sat Feb 28, 2004
> mailto:[email protected]
Washington DC roads instead of talking about the Autobahn. The idiots who
tailgate on the beltway doing 90 mph causing accidents galore are more of a
problem to the Post readers than this guy.
Pan
"Go Fig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:280220040556272357%[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, R J Carpenter
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > "Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > > Tam schrieb:
> > > >
> > > > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> > > >
> > > > By John Burgess
> > > > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > > > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> > > >
> > > > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her
2-year-old
> > > > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> > > > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > > > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> > >
> > > It really takes a whole week for European news to reach Washington?
> >
> > No and yes.
> >
> > My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance
"filler"
> > material to be used when and if space became available.
> >
> >
> At this point it is just a tragic auto accident, do you know how many
> of these happen everyday ?
> How many pages should the newspaper have ?
> jay
> Sat Feb 28, 2004
> mailto:[email protected]
Feb 28th 2004, 6:46 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
It has been thoroughly proven that traffic traveling at *widely
different* speeds on the same road does produce more accidents. You
cannot 'tailgate' another car without matching it's speed; a much safer
(though not advised) condition than approaching another moving car much
faster than it is going... There is talk in the US of standardizing
speed limits for both cars and trucks on US interstates; even though the
differential is merely 10 mph... In the case of the German incident the
speed differential was what... CLEARLY causing this accident to occur in
the first place.
Why does the European press report on American happenings BTW?
Tim K
"Pan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The Post should do more stories on the crazy and reckless drivers on
the
> Washington DC roads instead of talking about the Autobahn. The idiots
who
> tailgate on the beltway doing 90 mph causing accidents galore are more
of a
> problem to the Post readers than this guy.
> Pan
> "Go Fig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:280220040556272357%[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>, R J Carpenter
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > > "Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > > >
> > > > Tam schrieb:
> > > > >
> > > > > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> > > > >
> > > > > By John Burgess
> > > > > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > > > > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> > > > >
> > > > > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her
> 2-year-old
> > > > > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn.
Rolf
> > > > > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > > > > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> > > >
> > > > It really takes a whole week for European news to reach
Washington?
> > >
> > > No and yes.
> > >
> > > My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance
> "filler"
> > > material to be used when and if space became available.
> > >
> > >
> > At this point it is just a tragic auto accident, do you know how
many
> > of these happen everyday ?
> >
> > How many pages should the newspaper have ?
> >
> > jay
> > Sat Feb 28, 2004
> > mailto:[email protected]
different* speeds on the same road does produce more accidents. You
cannot 'tailgate' another car without matching it's speed; a much safer
(though not advised) condition than approaching another moving car much
faster than it is going... There is talk in the US of standardizing
speed limits for both cars and trucks on US interstates; even though the
differential is merely 10 mph... In the case of the German incident the
speed differential was what... CLEARLY causing this accident to occur in
the first place.
Why does the European press report on American happenings BTW?
Tim K
"Pan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The Post should do more stories on the crazy and reckless drivers on
the
> Washington DC roads instead of talking about the Autobahn. The idiots
who
> tailgate on the beltway doing 90 mph causing accidents galore are more
of a
> problem to the Post readers than this guy.
> Pan
> "Go Fig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:280220040556272357%[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>, R J Carpenter
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > > "Thomas Peel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > > >
> > > > Tam schrieb:
> > > > >
> > > > > Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> > > > >
> > > > > By John Burgess
> > > > > Washington Post Foreign Service
> > > > > Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> > > > >
> > > > > BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her
> 2-year-old
> > > > > daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn.
Rolf
> > > > > Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> > > > > approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> > > >
> > > > It really takes a whole week for European news to reach
Washington?
> > >
> > > No and yes.
> > >
> > > My guess is that the Post thought of this story as low-importance
> "filler"
> > > material to be used when and if space became available.
> > >
> > >
> > At this point it is just a tragic auto accident, do you know how
many
> > of these happen everyday ?
> >
> > How many pages should the newspaper have ?
> >
> > jay
> > Sat Feb 28, 2004
> > mailto:[email protected]
Feb 28th 2004, 7:06 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and pollution
tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
nationally.
Tim K
"Tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> By John Burgess
> Washington Post Foreign Service
> Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> His speed was not unusual on the long stretches of German highways,
> where drivers can legally go as fast as they want: about 155 mph.
> As he closed in on the Kia, a court later found, he flashed his
> headlights to signal he wanted the lane cleared. But the woman driving
> the Kia apparently became spooked. She swerved, lost control and went
> off the road, striking two trees. She and her daughter died instantly.
> Last week, after a trial covered closely by the German news media, a
> court convicted Fischer of negligent manslaughter in the July 2003
> deaths and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
> Germany's world-famous right to speed was not on trial, but its
> opponents have seized on the verdict to renew long-standing demands
> for controls. Senior politicians in the ruling Social Democrat-Green
> coalition have declared that the time has come for limits, arguing
> that it's only common sense that slowing down would save lives.
> ...
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Feb27.html
tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
nationally.
Tim K
"Tam" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
> By John Burgess
> Washington Post Foreign Service
> Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page A13
> BERLIN -- The Kia automobile carrying a young woman and her 2-year-old
> daughter was moving down the high-speed lane of the autobahn. Rolf
> Fischer, a 34-year-old test driver for DaimlerChrysler, was
> approaching from behind, in a powerful Mercedes Benz CL600.
> His speed was not unusual on the long stretches of German highways,
> where drivers can legally go as fast as they want: about 155 mph.
> As he closed in on the Kia, a court later found, he flashed his
> headlights to signal he wanted the lane cleared. But the woman driving
> the Kia apparently became spooked. She swerved, lost control and went
> off the road, striking two trees. She and her daughter died instantly.
> Last week, after a trial covered closely by the German news media, a
> court convicted Fischer of negligent manslaughter in the July 2003
> deaths and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
> Germany's world-famous right to speed was not on trial, but its
> opponents have seized on the verdict to renew long-standing demands
> for controls. Senior politicians in the ruling Social Democrat-Green
> coalition have declared that the time has come for limits, arguing
> that it's only common sense that slowing down would save lives.
> ...
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Feb27.html
Feb 28th 2004, 9:17 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
There are many reasons for the "unlimited speed limit" being in place.
First, Germany is a relatively small country, and the autobahn allowed for
someone to travel on business or pleasure from the north to the south within
a day. Also, the high speeds allowed German auto manufacturers to push the
state of the art in auto technology, so witness the handling, braking, and
other performance enhancements in Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and even in the
pedestrian Opel and VW cars compared to its US competition. And lastly it's
a cultural thing. Germans just love their cars and to go fast. It's one of
the last refuges of personal freedom in a conformist society.
Pan
"Tim Kroesen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> ... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and pollution
> tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
> In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
> nationally.
> Tim K
First, Germany is a relatively small country, and the autobahn allowed for
someone to travel on business or pleasure from the north to the south within
a day. Also, the high speeds allowed German auto manufacturers to push the
state of the art in auto technology, so witness the handling, braking, and
other performance enhancements in Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and even in the
pedestrian Opel and VW cars compared to its US competition. And lastly it's
a cultural thing. Germans just love their cars and to go fast. It's one of
the last refuges of personal freedom in a conformist society.
Pan
"Tim Kroesen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> ... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and pollution
> tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
> In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
> nationally.
> Tim K
Feb 28th 2004, 10:14 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion
Tim Kroesen schrieb:
> It has been thoroughly proven that traffic traveling at *widely
> different* speeds on the same road does produce more accidents. You
> cannot 'tailgate' another car without matching it's speed; a much safer
> (though not advised) condition than approaching another moving car much
> faster than it is going...
True. But on the other side this year in Germany we had the LOWEST count
of fatal car accidents since 50 years!
Wolfgang
> It has been thoroughly proven that traffic traveling at *widely
> different* speeds on the same road does produce more accidents. You
> cannot 'tailgate' another car without matching it's speed; a much safer
> (though not advised) condition than approaching another moving car much
> faster than it is going...
True. But on the other side this year in Germany we had the LOWEST count
of fatal car accidents since 50 years!
Wolfgang
Feb 28th 2004, 10:21 am
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
"Tim Kroesen" wrote
> ... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and pollution
> tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
> In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
> nationally.
Oh, that apparently compensates for driving gas guzzlers like the SUV's.
I'm impressed, how smart.
> ... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and pollution
> tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
> In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
> nationally.
Oh, that apparently compensates for driving gas guzzlers like the SUV's.
I'm impressed, how smart.
Feb 28th 2004, 10:24 am
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion
Wolfgang Barth schrieb:
> True. But on the other side this year in Germany we had the LOWEST count
> of fatal car accidents since 50 years!
Just had a look at the statistics which is quite interesting.
In Germany there are 11.9 dead of 100000 population per year.
In the US this number is 15.9 dead.
(This is based on the year 1999 because I didn't find newer figures.)
Maybe someone has newer data.
Wolfgang
> True. But on the other side this year in Germany we had the LOWEST count
> of fatal car accidents since 50 years!
Just had a look at the statistics which is quite interesting.
In Germany there are 11.9 dead of 100000 population per year.
In the US this number is 15.9 dead.
(This is based on the year 1999 because I didn't find newer figures.)
Maybe someone has newer data.
Wolfgang
Feb 28th 2004, 10:29 am
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
"Pan" wrote:
> There are many reasons for the "unlimited speed limit" being in place.
> First, Germany is a relatively small country, and the autobahn allowed for
> someone to travel on business or pleasure from the north to the south within
> a day. Also, the high speeds allowed German auto manufacturers to push the
> state of the art in auto technology, so witness the handling, braking, and
> other performance enhancements in Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and even in the
> pedestrian Opel and VW cars compared to its US competition. And lastly it's
> a cultural thing. Germans just love their cars and to go fast. It's one of
> the last refuges of personal freedom in a conformist society.
> Pan
You forgot the best German car, ImhO.
The one I can't afford:-)
> There are many reasons for the "unlimited speed limit" being in place.
> First, Germany is a relatively small country, and the autobahn allowed for
> someone to travel on business or pleasure from the north to the south within
> a day. Also, the high speeds allowed German auto manufacturers to push the
> state of the art in auto technology, so witness the handling, braking, and
> other performance enhancements in Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and even in the
> pedestrian Opel and VW cars compared to its US competition. And lastly it's
> a cultural thing. Germans just love their cars and to go fast. It's one of
> the last refuges of personal freedom in a conformist society.
> Pan
You forgot the best German car, ImhO.
The one I can't afford:-)
Feb 28th 2004, 10:53 am
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
There are many factors to road fatalities...
I don't see how setting a unified car and truck speed limit on German
Autobahns will make them less safe however. Why should a select few
with enough car and gas cash to go faster than a reasonable limit
imposed for the safety of all. Driving is a privilege and all have a
right to the safest driving environment possible even if Laws must be
made to restrict, and penalize those that disregard the safety of
others...
Tim K
"Wolfgang Barth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Wolfgang Barth schrieb:
> > True. But on the other side this year in Germany we had the LOWEST
count
> > of fatal car accidents since 50 years!
> Just had a look at the statistics which is quite interesting.
> In Germany there are 11.9 dead of 100000 population per year.
> In the US this number is 15.9 dead.
> (This is based on the year 1999 because I didn't find newer figures.)
> Maybe someone has newer data.
> Wolfgang
I don't see how setting a unified car and truck speed limit on German
Autobahns will make them less safe however. Why should a select few
with enough car and gas cash to go faster than a reasonable limit
imposed for the safety of all. Driving is a privilege and all have a
right to the safest driving environment possible even if Laws must be
made to restrict, and penalize those that disregard the safety of
others...
Tim K
"Wolfgang Barth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Wolfgang Barth schrieb:
> > True. But on the other side this year in Germany we had the LOWEST
count
> > of fatal car accidents since 50 years!
> Just had a look at the statistics which is quite interesting.
> In Germany there are 11.9 dead of 100000 population per year.
> In the US this number is 15.9 dead.
> (This is based on the year 1999 because I didn't find newer figures.)
> Maybe someone has newer data.
> Wolfgang
Feb 28th 2004, 10:58 am
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
Never miss an opportunity to put down America, eh... How one track
minded you are!
But you don't address the question I proposed in this thread regarding
*German* drivers...
Tim K
"sascha" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Tim Kroesen" wrote
> > ... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and
pollution
> > tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
> >
> > In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
> > nationally.
> Oh, that apparently compensates for driving gas guzzlers like the
SUV's.
> I'm impressed, how smart.
minded you are!
But you don't address the question I proposed in this thread regarding
*German* drivers...
Tim K
"sascha" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Tim Kroesen" wrote
> > ... I'm surprised Germany has such unlimited fuel supply and
pollution
> > tolerance to allow 'unlimited' highway speeds...
> >
> > In the US speed limits were reduced on interstates to save fuel
> > nationally.
> Oh, that apparently compensates for driving gas guzzlers like the
SUV's.
> I'm impressed, how smart.
Feb 28th 2004, 11:10 am
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Washington Post: Autobahn Deaths Force Germans to Rethink Passion for Speed
"Tim Kroesen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> There are many factors to road fatalities...
> I don't see how setting a unified car and truck speed limit on German
> Autobahns will make them less safe however.
That part is well understood, the name of the phenemona is
bunching, essentially you get dense packets of traffic moving
at approx the same speed but the vehicles within that packet
have radically different braking and handling characteristics.
When something goes wrong the result is carnage
> Why should a select few
> with enough car and gas cash to go faster than a reasonable limit
> imposed for the safety of all. Driving is a privilege and all have a
> right to the safest driving environment possible even if Laws must be
> made to restrict, and penalize those that disregard the safety of
> others...
The logical outcome of that argument is a speed limit of 0 kph
and no accidents at all, this being the safest possible driving
environment.
Keith
news:[email protected]...
> There are many factors to road fatalities...
> I don't see how setting a unified car and truck speed limit on German
> Autobahns will make them less safe however.
That part is well understood, the name of the phenemona is
bunching, essentially you get dense packets of traffic moving
at approx the same speed but the vehicles within that packet
have radically different braking and handling characteristics.
When something goes wrong the result is carnage
> Why should a select few
> with enough car and gas cash to go faster than a reasonable limit
> imposed for the safety of all. Driving is a privilege and all have a
> right to the safest driving environment possible even if Laws must be
> made to restrict, and penalize those that disregard the safety of
> others...
The logical outcome of that argument is a speed limit of 0 kph
and no accidents at all, this being the safest possible driving
environment.
Keith
