https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/19/no-speed-limit-german-style-autobahn-proposed-california-lawmaker/2922628002/

No speed limits: It works for Germany but could it work for California?

James Ward | Visalia Times-Delta Updated 53 minutes ago VISALIA, Calif. – Forget about the high-speed rail zipping commuters from San Francisco to Los Angeles.One Southern California politician, state Sen. John Moorlach, has introduced a bill that would do away with speed limits for certain lanes on I-5 and Highway 99 – two vital roadways that stretch across the Golden State.The measure would require the Department of Transportation to expand the 235-mile stretches from Bakersfield to Stockton on both sides of I-5 and Highway 99 by two lanes.If you think this sounds like the premise of “Mad Max” movie, some California motorists would agree. "I would stay off the freeway," Vikki Short said. "There are enough crazy drivers (without) taking away the speed limit."Moorlach points to what he describes as the safer and less congested German autobahn system, which features some stretches with no speed limits.“The stats prove that driving in Germany is safer,” the Orange County Republican said. “And, there’s less congestion.”Moorlach's opinion is popular among some."The autobahn works just fine in Germany, why not here," Joey Torres said. "Of course, there will always those 'what if' people but no is forcing you to get on it. These are the kind of out of the box ideas that need to be proposed to taxpayers when proposing tax increases."And what about Central California’s notorious Tule Fog in the winter and dust storms in the summer that often cut down visibility on Highway 99 and I-5? “Drivers will need to use common sense of course,” Moorlach said. “I don’t think people will drive 100 mph in a dust storm.”Other Californians see the proposal as an opportunity. "I think it'd be a huge tourist attraction for California," said Kara Vincent-Grim. "People will come from all over the US to use the only No Limit road to finally be able to drive their high-end sports cars."Moorlach’s proposal comes after the news that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is scaling back on plans to build a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The cost of the project had ballooned to $77 billion.“Let’s be real,” Newsom said in his first State of the State address on Feb. 12. “The current project, as planned, would cost too much and respectfully take too long. There’s been too little oversight and not enough transparency.”California scraps plan to build high-speed railroadCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom is abandoning plans to build a high-speed railroad between Los Angeles and San Francisco, saying the ambitious project that was approved by voters and championed by his predecessor is too costly.TimeNewsom, though, said he wants to finish construction already underway on a segment of the high-speed train through the Central Valley. The project would connect a 119-mile stretch from Merced to Bakersfield.Moorlach proposal has some questions, though. The cost of building two additional traffic lanes on I-5 and Highway 99 isn’t known yet.Follow James Ward on Twitter: @VTDChoicesOriginally Published 10:20 p.m. EST Feb. 19, 2019 Updated 53 minutes ago

 

I've been watching this one. I think it has little chance of going forward, but one can hope.

To be honest, though, if you're doing 80 mph on I-5 today, people are passing you.

 

Interstate 40 from Barstow to Needles would be a good choice..no fog nor dust storms..a very boring 140 mile trip..
I (and others here) have driven thru the Tule fog and it'a absolutely NOOOOO fun.

I'd also go for 3 additional lanes in each direction instead of 2.

 

 

Could not agree more

 

Lane discipline. Slow traffic stays out of the left lane

 

As I have a property in the Central Valley, I am often on the 5 and the 99. That would be a great treat to have an unlimited speed road. However, I have been in zero visibility in tule fog, and it's positively terrifying. So you'd have to hope common sense would prevail. Can't wait!

 

I've driven the autobahns many times. Places where there is likely to be traffic / congestion have speed limits. Places where traffic is likely to be light are wide open. They have maddening traffic jams (stau) just like here, but they also have wonderfully empty unlimited freeways. Probably 20 years ago I rented a BMW 528 and ran it as fast as it would go on the autobahn from Munich to Passau. 250 kph indicated (150 mph). Ran in excess of 200 kph for quite a distance.

Driver training and testing is significantly more rigorous than here. Stay out of the left lane unless passing.

 

Which should be easy ....but great numbers of USA drivers cannot manage even that simple level of discipline.

Cheers
DD

 

This brought back a memory of driving down the A6 from Paris to Lyon way back in a BMW. A lot of the way I was able to travel at an indicated 130+ mph in good weather conditions with not much traffic around.

There was a speed limit however no one seemed to care. Only issue was big trucks would pull on to the Autoroute without a care in the world right in front of me.

The day we chose to head home coincided with the end to the French Summer Holidays. Stopped traffic as far as the eye could see.

We turned around and spent another couple of days with friends.

 

The California Autobahn is the I10 from Beaumont to the AZ state line. You better be going 100MPH+ in the left lane or you will be pushed out of the way.

Yes I agree none of the jerks have a clue on how to drive.

 

For the lawmakers It all comes down to..."How do we tax it? How much money can I....I mean we make off of it? Will it help me get re-elected?" All other considerations are just background noise.
CRS

 

A good idea.....but it would be ruined by the insurance companies...any car that is rated to go 150 mph will be punished

 

I think it should be restricted to F types only and their should be one in every state.

 

Amen to this....i had to break my daughter of homesteading the fast lane....the old saying...either get right or you get left(in the dust)..what broke her was a big 4x4 passing on the right one time...sounded like a locomotive....she screamed bloody murder, pulled off on the next exit, checked her shorts in the ladies room and got in the passenger seat

 

While I agree that camping in the left lane is selfish and inconsiderate, here in the US (at least my part of it) it is not prohibited. In California, all forward lanes are considered equal unless signage indicates otherwise. Also, passing on the right is not prohibited.

Until those two key issues are resolved, an autobahn here would indeed mean carnage. Other issues would include general driving standards and attentiveness. I'd really love to see better driving everywhere, but I have little hope of it happening before human-operated vehicles go the way of the dodo.

 

Keep "right" laws.
https://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

 

Increasing speed limit 30% or so - sure. No speed limit driving should require tech inspection and a special license.

 

In many states it is a 'passing lane'. The idea...and in most cases, the law..... is to use the lane to pass a slower car and then return to the driving lanes.

Some people camp out in the passing lane wanna go slower than others. They have no intention of returning to the driving lanes. They obstruct others...out of arrogance or ignorance.

Some people camp out in the passing lane wanna go faster than others. They have no intention of returning to the driving lanes. They just want everyone to move out of their way, period.

Both are wrong.

Me? Heh heh. I stay to the right most of the time. It's faster. Everybody and their brother wants to be in the passing lane because they want to 'pass' slower traffic.. Very congested; everyone stacked on top of each other, grimacing and swearing, tail gating, flashing their high beams. It's laughable.

Meanwhile, I zoom by in the near-empty right lane(s), whistling a tune

Cheers
DD

 

I drive the same way and have ever since I can remember. That is the near-empty right lane(s).

Driving rte 95 between Baltimore and Providence at night I find people in the fast lane dawdling along without a clue as to who is coming up behind and are shocked when I go by on thier right side. Have to be careful of these drivers as one or two will suddenly swerve into the slower lane as you are almost upon them.

Packs of cars no problem usually. Truckers are a totally different issue on 95 at night!