In 1975, German band Kraftwerk tried to capture the feel of driving on a motorway with the chorus Wir fahren, fahren, fahren auf der Autobahn ("We drive, drive, drive on the Autobahn"), often misheard as "Fun fun fun on the Autobahn." In fact, this nationally coordinated motorway system earned reputation for being one of the best places to drive in Europe and the ultimate pinnacle of the German driving experience, mostly because of its design and maintenance.
There's no general speed limit, but the signs posted along the highway suggest a recommended speed limit of 130 kilometres per hour (80 mph). The concept of what would become the autobahn as we know it today started during the days of the Weimar Republic. The first road of this kind was completed in 1932 and named Kraftfahrstraße ("motor vehicle road"), connecting Cologne to Bonn. Slowly but not surely, the process came to a halt during World War II and the existing roads, damaged by bombings and military demolition, were soon repaired after it ended. As of 2010, Germany's autobanh network has a total length of about 12,813 km. The only countries with highway systems that surpass it are China and the United States. Designed for unimpeded, high-speed traffic flow, it features elements such as landscaped "green" medians, well-banked curves, long acceleration and deceleration lanes, and freeze-resistant concrete. Other details and upgrades added were the emergency telephones, reflector guide posts, parking areas and wildlife protection fencing.
If you're planning to rent a car for your trip to Germany, make sure to ask the company if an international driving license is needed. There are no tolls for cars. Traffic regulations are not that different from other highways, with bicycles and any vehicles with a maximum speed rating of less than 60 km/h (36 mph) prohibited from using the autobahn. For all other vehicles, passing on the right is strictly prohibited. Make sure you're traveling with a full deposit – it's illegal to stop unnecessarily and that includes running out of fuel. As for safety, Germany has earned praise for its autobahn which, compared to other European highways, is considered safe.
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