Through technology and mass communications, most everyone has heard of Germany’s (plus Austria’s and Switzerland’s) Autobahn Highway System (Bundesautobahn). But, how much do you know (or care!) about it?  Here are a few facts:

It was begun in the 1930’s by Adolph Hitler primarily as a public works project, providing government jobs to unemployed Germans, and furnished a road connection between various regions within Germany that could make military defense and logistics much more efficient and rapid in response.

The design of the Autobahn highway system incorporated a much thicker composition of concrete and asphalt than is used in this country for our Interstate Highway System. In order to carry the extreme weight of tanks and other heavy military vehicles, most sections were a half-meter (18”) thick. This prevented cracking of the roadway and inhibited the effect of extreme frost/freezing conditions experienced in Europe.

The design engineering was such that high speed was capable, even on curves (this practice was not generally used in the USA until the mid-50’s, with the advent of the Interstate System).

Another unique feature of the Autobahn is that, except in specific stretches, there is no legally-enforced top speed for automobiles (busses and heavy trucks/vehicles DO have limits)! Although it is recommended to hold speed to 130 km/h (80 mph) (required in Austria and Switzerland), the speed is virtually wide open! Even today some car dealers have had trial runs of over 240 miles per hour on the Autobahn!

On the other end of the spectrum, there IS a slow-speed limit — not less than 61 km/h (38 mph). Also, in most areas, slower traffic is required to stay in the right-hand lane except for passing. This allows the left lane to be reserved for higher speed driving. Being caught by the heavily-monitoring highway police for driving slow in the left lane will result in a traffic violation (ticket)!

The overall road traffic safety of German autobahns is generally better than that of other European highways.

_______________________

The American version of the Autobahn

U.S. automobile manufacturers lobbied for years to have a similar highway system in this country. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was influenced by his experiences as a young Army officer crossing the country in the 1919 Army Convoy on the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America. Eisenhower also had gained an appreciation of the German Autobahn network as a necessary component of a national defense system while he was serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II.

Finally, in 1956 the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate), was begun in the United States.  As of this writing, there are nearly 47,000 miles of Interstate highway. Although some construction on the Interstate Highway System continues, I-70 through Glenwood Canyon (finished in 1992) is often cited as the completion of the originally planned system. It has cost over 425 Billion dollars!

In 1965, “Lady Bird’s Bill” (The Beautification Act of 1965) was enacted. Among its provisions were removing or blocking from view all junk and trash, the planting of wildflowers, and scenic enhancement and roadside development along the Interstate system.

When I went to Germany in 1958, I had not seen any of the Interstate highways here since they began in the more populous area. A few months after arriving in Germany, I had my first experience in driving on a super highway! Even though I was in a military vehicle and limited to 50 MPH by a governor on the engine, I was amazed!  Much better than the old “macadam” streets (a paved surface having compressed layers of broken rocks held together with tar) back in VA. However, even driving at 50, cars going past at three times my speed made me feel like I was sitting still.

Our Interstate System is comparable with the Autobahn; not as “thick” and more prone to cracking and weather/traffic damage, but better than we had previously.

I just wish that our drivers could be influenced by the rules of the Autobahn. Not speed of course, since that is a regulated item here. But, slower traffic in the right-most lanes, etc. I have seen the results of many accidents where large trucks or recreational-type vehicles occupy both lanes (one of them supposedly passing), backing up traffic for miles. Eventually, one of the “detained” drivers behind them will take unsafe chances in trying to pass – accidents usually result.

As time passes, there will be enhancements to our highways. One that I forecast will be used pretty soon will be guidance strips embedded into the roadway (similar to the wires that control current “demand” traffic signal lights). These will be used for “unattended or driver-less” driving; control signals sent to an on-board computer to keep the car from veering out of its lane, and sensors to slow/stop the car in case of approaching an obstruction in the road ahead.

It hasn’t been too many years ago since we asked, “GPS – what’s that”?