Autobahn

This article is about the German Autobahn system. For the Austrian Autobahn system, see Autobahns of Austria. For other uses, see Autobahn (disambiguation).

Bundesautobahn

Selected Autobahn signs with route markers for
Bundesautobahnen 2, 14, 63 & 480
Autobahnen in Deutschland.svg
A map of the German Bundesautobahn network
System information
Maintained by Die Autobahn GmbH des Bundes [de]
Length13,192 km (2021) (8,197 mi)
Formed1932; 92 years ago (1932)
Highway names
Autobahns:Bundesautobahn X
(BAB X or A X)
Websitewww.autobahn.de/en/its
A 3 and A 5 at Frankfurter Kreuz near Frankfurt am Main
Overhead signage on A 3

The Autobahn (IPA: [ˈaʊtoˌbaːn] ⓘ; German pl. Autobahnen, pronounced [ˈaʊ̯toˌbaːnən] ⓘ) is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official term is Bundesautobahn (abbreviated BAB), which translates as 'federal motorway'. The literal meaning of the word Bundesautobahn is 'Federal Auto(mobile) Track'.

Much of the system has no speed limit for some classes of vehicles.[1] However, limits are posted and enforced in areas that are urbanised, substandard, accident-prone, or under construction. On speed-unrestricted stretches, an advisory speed limit (Richtgeschwindigkeit) of 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph) applies.[2] While driving faster is not illegal in the absence of a speed limit, it can cause an increased liability in the case of a collision (which mandatory auto insurance has to cover); courts have ruled that an "ideal driver" who is exempt from absolute liability for "inevitable" tort under the law would not exceed the advisory speed limit.

A 2017 report by the Federal Road Research Institute reported that in 2015, 70.4% of the Autobahn network had only the advisory speed limit, 6.2% had temporary speed limits due to weather or traffic conditions, and 23.4% had permanent speed limits.[3] Measurements from the German state of Brandenburg in 2006 showed average speeds of 142 km/h (88 mph) on a 6-lane section of Autobahn in free-flowing conditions.[4]

  1. ^ Jeremic, Sam (16 September 2013). "Fun, fun, fun on the autobahn". The West Australian. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Verordnung über eine allgemeine Richtgeschwindigkeit auf Autobahnen und ähnlichen Straßen". Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. ^ "BASt 2017 – Publikationen – Tempolimits auf Bundesautobahnen 2015". www.bast.de.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference studie_tempolimit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).