LAME!!!

[TOM-CAT]

This would TOTALLY suck! (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/world/europe/16autobahn.html?ex=1174708800&en=5c72c704316fbf59&ei=5070&emc=eta1)
I haven't even gotten a chance to go there yet!:yell:

What a crock! Politicians are always quick to take stabs at civil liberties, because individuals don't have lobbyists. Sounds like a quick fix, to draw attention away from commercial producers of Carbon Dioxide.
I am not convinced, and I would be up in arms if I was a German citizen.:yell:

[Fade]

:mad: that is sooooo not cool. :yell:

[Xusia]

Great. The last bastion of the truly free world is falling...

[liablemtl]

Funny... they say that a speed limit would reduce the amount of CO released into the air because cars would be running at more efficient speeds. What they fail to address is that the trip time would increase... I'm curious to see what the numbers are on a 150 mile trip for a car driving at 150 mph and taking an hour to get to it's destination, compared to a car driving at 75mph and taking twice as long.

[cbrgirl]

Very good pt Liable! Not to mention the whole PURPOSE of the Bahn is TO go fast.. ugh... *shakes head* Stupid politics!!

[ArinSjorensen]

what inthe hell did they just say?

[Xusia]

Reducing the speed limit would save emissions, because the faster a vehicle goes, the more power that is required and hence the more fuel it burns. More fuel burnt = more emissions. Still, I am loathe to believe the Autobahn is responsible for a significant portion of carbon dioxide...

[ArinSjorensen]

well to solve your problem, have 13 of your most scantially clad friends, nerdy sisters and gq models break down along the I 5 corridor to keep the local law enforcement engaged, of course do this on an early sunday morning, go out do 178 mph for a mile or two and you save 30,000 euros and a whole lot of time going to Germany. if your bike doesnt do 178, ill lend you mine for 21,000 the price of a slightly used 3 year old r1, cuz now that i think of it, id like that new ducati also.
anytime there is a new law, someone has lost his or her freedom doing that which he or she felt passion in doing. on a more serious note : if you ever make itto germany and ride the bahn, take a few breathes for all of us that do not have the freedom to experience something so beautiful (legally)

[liablemtl]

Reducing the speed limit would save emissions, because the faster a vehicle goes, the more power that is required and hence the more fuel it burns. More fuel burnt = more emissions. Still, I am loathe to believe the Autobahn is responsible for a significant portion of carbon dioxide...

And more time equals more emissions as well... Chicken or egg?

Besides, cars are way less polluting now than they were 20 years ago. Who's to say that this speed limit is absolutely necessary at this point... just because a bunch of natty, crybaby, spoil sport politicians in another country say it has happen doesn't mean that it should.

I'm just sayin', that's all...

[marayo]

For years, speed limit advocates tried to argue their case on safety grounds. The autobahn, though, is statistically safer than highways in many countries, even if its crashes are singularly horrific.

I vote for safety. Let's get rid of speed limits! :rad:

[liablemtl]

I vote for safety. Let's get rid of speed limits! :rad:

But while we are at it, let's also make it harder to get a license and add a graduated licensing system. :yes:

[Xusia]

And more time equals more emissions as well... Chicken or egg?

Looking at it from a time perspective is misleading. Going 178 produces more emissions than going 55 in a given mile regardless of time (because of the exponential increase in wind resistance). Now going 15 vs 10 might be different (because the difference in wind resistance at those speeds is insignificant).

That said, I TOTALLY get what you saying - this really does suck - and I would certainly vote against it if I were German and had the opportunity. I'm just trying to point out that they are being at least somewhat rational. Even so, I still don't think teh Autobahn is to blame...

[TOM-CAT]

I vote for safety. Let's get rid of speed limits! :rad:

+1
I would be a way safer driver if I didn't have to spend all my time looking out for the fuzz.:shifty: :lol:

[Jane Honda]

:laughing:

[lobes]

Looking at it from a time perspective is misleading. Going 178 produces more emissions than going 55 in a given mile regardless of time (because of the exponential increase in wind resistance). Now going 15 vs 10 might be different (because the difference in wind resistance at those speeds is insignificant).

That said, I TOTALLY get what you saying - this really does suck - and I would certainly vote against it if I were German and had the opportunity. I'm just trying to point out that they are being at least somewhat rational. Even so, I still don't think teh Autobahn is to blame...

Before seeing your post I was thinking the same thing. They also said in the artical that by adding a speed limit they expect the CO emission to only decrease by 0.5%. Is it really worth it to save that little of an amount?

[TOM-CAT]

The 0.5% would be a portion of the entire national CO2 production, so that would be a significant quantity. Still I don't like it when politicians place the blame/responsibility on individuals. Corporations receive tax incentives to make small reductions; they should be fined for what they do produce. Where are the incentives for drivers? Are drivers going to be paid for driving slower? And don't even talk about reduced gas usage as a form of financial incentive.:crazy:

[FJMam]

When this is put up against the horrible emissions being produced by developed and developing industrial nations-China, India, USA i.e. How can they even think this will make a jot of difference.
:( Until we stop buying products from comapnies that don't take care of the planet and it's inhabitants little or nothing is going to improve.
God knows I'm as guilty as most but I have consciously started paying attention to the things I purchase and support.

Hurrah for the Autobahn! A place where most of us only dream of driving a Lotus or gunning our super litre bikes! :thumbup: :rad:

[ArinSjorensen]

i guess my idea bombed, i just try to look at the lighter side of things, if you go around being miserable because you want to live free and are not, then you waste your life and you will never be free. sadly i think the masses dont assert themselves and the few who do are drowned out by the noise of those who would take that freedom

[Xusia]

When this is put up against the horrible emissions being produced by developed and developing industrial nations-China, India, USA i.e. How can they even think this will make a jot of difference.
:( Until we stop buying products from comapnies that don't take care of the planet and it's inhabitants little or nothing is going to improve.

sadly i think the masses dont assert themselves and the few who do are drowned out by the noise of those who would take that freedom

+1 on both accounts. Most people sadly go through their lives not standing up for anything. I guess they figure those in power know best (I am not under such disillusionment). Or perhaps it's that the freedoms/things they care about most are not in jeopardy...