Autobahn - Revision history

Red marquis at 23:59, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:59:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:59, 12 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:~~292222-kraftwerk-autobahn~~.jpg\|right\|300px]]		[[Image:Kraftwerkautobahn.jpg\|right\|300px]]
	'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.		'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.

Red marquis at 23:52, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:52:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 12 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|~~275px~~]]		[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|300px]]
	'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.		'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.

Red marquis at 23:51, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:51:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:51, 12 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|~~300px~~]]		[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|275px]]
	'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.		'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.

Red marquis at 23:51, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:51:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:51, 12 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|~~400px~~]]		[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|300px]]
	'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.		'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.

Red marquis at 23:50, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:50:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 12 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
			[[Image:292222-kraftwerk-autobahn.jpg\|right\|400px]]
	'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.		'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.

Red marquis: /* Austria and Switzerland */

2007-03-12T23:40:52Z

Austria and Switzerland

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:40, 12 March 2007
Line 112:		Line 112:
	The Swiss vignette is offered only as an annual toll sticker, while the Austrians offer their vignettes in varying lengths of validity (10 days, 2 months or a year).		The Swiss vignette is offered only as an annual toll sticker, while the Austrians offer their vignettes in varying lengths of validity (10 days, 2 months or a year).

	Since 2005 trucks travelling on Austrian autobahns are required to have a Go-Box, a little white box which counts the length of the used autobahn with electrical control points. The Go-Box is queried by overhead [[DSRC]] microwave radio transceivers at each exit. As only trucks need to carry a Go-Box, overhead 3-D infrared laser scanners are used to detect and photograph trucks without Go-Box.		Since 2005 trucks travelling on Austrian autobahns are required to have a Go-Box, a little white box which counts the length of the used autobahn with electrical control points. The Go-Box is queried by overhead DSRC microwave radio transceivers at each exit. As only trucks need to carry a Go-Box, overhead 3-D infrared laser scanners are used to detect and photograph trucks without Go-Box.

	In Switzerland a similar system is in use, using a box called "Tripon". Different to Austria and Germany, trucks are obligated to pay toll (''Leistungsabhängige Schwerverkehrsabgabe (LSVA)'' (''Power-dependent heavy traffic toll'')) for every use of Swiss roads (also on regular highways and local roads).		In Switzerland a similar system is in use, using a box called "Tripon". Different to Austria and Germany, trucks are obligated to pay toll (''Leistungsabhängige Schwerverkehrsabgabe (LSVA)'' (''Power-dependent heavy traffic toll'')) for every use of Swiss roads (also on regular highways and local roads).

Red marquis: /* See also */

2007-03-12T23:40:20Z

Red marquis: /* Film */

2007-03-12T23:39:57Z

Film

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:39, 12 March 2007
Line 150:		Line 150:

	==Film==		==Film==
	*''Reichsautobahn'' (documentary/b&w) by [[Hartmut Bitomsky]] (West Germany, 1986)		*''Reichsautobahn'' (documentary/b&w) by Hartmut Bitomsky (West Germany, 1986)

	==External links==		==External links==

Red marquis at 23:39, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:39:42Z

Show changes

Red marquis at 23:30, 12 March 2007

2007-03-12T23:30:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:30, 12 March 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA;~~{{audio\|DE_Autobahn.ogg\|German pronunciation}})~~ is the ~~[[German language\|~~German]] word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.		'''''Autobahn''''' (pronounced [ˈaʊtoːbaːn] in IPA; is the German word for a major high-[[speed]] [[road]] restricted to motor vehicles and having full control of access, similar to a [[motorway]] or [[freeway]] in English-speaking countries.

	In most countries, it usually refers to the German autobahn specifically. The "[[recommended speed]]" of the German autobahn is 130 km/h (80 mph). [[Autobahns of Austria\|Austrian]] and [[Autobahns of Switzerland\|Swiss autobahns]] have general speed limits of 130 km/h and 120 km/h (75 mph), respectively. In German, the word is pronounced as described above, and its plural is ''Autobahnen''; in English, however, the segment "auto" is typically pronounced as in other English words such as "automobile". The official name of the autobahn in [[Germany]] is ''Bundesautobahn (BAB)'' (''Federal Motorway'').		In most countries, it usually refers to the German autobahn specifically. The "[[recommended speed]]" of the German autobahn is 130 km/h (80 mph). [[Autobahns of Austria\|Austrian]] and [[Autobahns of Switzerland\|Swiss autobahns]] have general speed limits of 130 km/h and 120 km/h (75 mph), respectively. In German, the word is pronounced as described above, and its plural is ''Autobahnen''; in English, however, the segment "auto" is typically pronounced as in other English words such as "automobile". The official name of the autobahn in Germany is ''Bundesautobahn (BAB)'' (''Federal Motorway'').
	Autobahns are built and maintained by the federal government (as are the federal highways), thus the name "Federal Motorway". When first built in the 1930s the official name was "Reichsautobahn" (Imperial Motorway). There are roads of similar design built by the states. These belong to the system of federal highways and have the same yellow signs.		Autobahns are built and maintained by the federal government (as are the federal highways), thus the name "Federal Motorway". When first built in the 1930s the official name was "Reichsautobahn" (Imperial Motorway). There are roads of similar design built by the states. These belong to the system of federal highways and have the same yellow signs.

	==Construction==		==Construction==
	===Germany===		===Germany===
	Similar to such freeways in other countries, autobahns have multiple lanes of traffic in each direction, separated by a central barrier with ~~[[grade separation\|~~grade-separated]] junctions and access restricted to certain types of motor vehicles only. The first German autobahn was completed in 1931 between [[Cologne]] and [[Bonn]] <ref> [http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth08.htm German Myth 8 Hitler and the autobahn] German.about.com</ref>. Each carriageway was flanked by bankettes about 60 cm (2 ft) in width, constructed of varying materials; right-hand bankettes on many autobahns were later retrofitted to 120 cm (4 ft) in width when it was realized cars needed the additional space to pull off the autobahn safely. In the postwar years, a thicker asphaltic concrete cross-section with full paved hard shoulders came into general use. The top design speed was approximately 80 km/h (50 mph) in flat country but lower design speeds could be used in hilly or mountainous terrain. A flat-country autobahn constructed to published design standards in use during the Nazi period could support hands-off (banking of the roadway where the car would track straight, despite curvature of the road) speeds on curves of about 40 km/h (25 mph).		Similar to such freeways in other countries, autobahns have multiple lanes of traffic in each direction, separated by a central barrier with grade-separated junctions and access restricted to certain types of motor vehicles only. The first German autobahn was completed in 1931 between Cologne and Bonn <ref> [http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth08.htm German Myth 8 Hitler and the autobahn] German.about.com</ref>. Each carriageway was flanked by bankettes about 60 cm (2 ft) in width, constructed of varying materials; right-hand bankettes on many autobahns were later retrofitted to 120 cm (4 ft) in width when it was realized cars needed the additional space to pull off the autobahn safely. In the postwar years, a thicker asphaltic concrete cross-section with full paved hard shoulders came into general use. The top design speed was approximately 80 km/h (50 mph) in flat country but lower design speeds could be used in hilly or mountainous terrain. A flat-country autobahn constructed to published design standards in use during the Nazi period could support hands-off (banking of the roadway where the car would track straight, despite curvature of the road) speeds on curves of about 40 km/h (25 mph).
	~~[[Image:Bundesautobahn 8 number.svg\|100px\|thumb\|The number signet for the "A 8" as it appears on all traffic signs]]~~
	The current autobahn numbering system in use in Germany was introduced in 1974. All autobahns are named by using the capital letter "A" followed by a blank and a number (for example "[[Bundesautobahn 8\|A 8]]"). The "main autobahns" going all across Germany have a single digit number usually even-numbered for east-west routes and odd-numbered for north-south routes. Some roads may not be as easily distinguished as one or the other as they may be in the [[United States]], for example, whose [[interstate highway]]s follow routes that are clearly horizontal or vertical when viewed on a conventional map.
	Shorter autobahns that are of regional importance (e.g. connecting two major cities or regions within Germany) have a double digit number (e.g. [[Bundesautobahn 24\|A 24]], connecting [[Berlin]] and [[Hamburg]]). The system is as follows:

	[[~~Image:Autobahn_10~~-~~999~~.~~png~~\|~~thumb\|right\|200px\|Pattern of autobahns 10 to 999~~]]		The current autobahn numbering system in use in Germany was introduced in 1974. All autobahns are named by using the capital letter "A" followed by a blank and a number (for example "[[Bundesautobahn 8\|A 8]]"). The "main autobahns" going all across Germany have a single digit number usually even-numbered for east-west routes and odd-numbered for north-south routes. Some roads may not be as easily distinguished as one or the other as they may be in the United States, for example, whose [[interstate highway]]s follow routes that are clearly horizontal or vertical when viewed on a conventional map.
	* A 10 to A 19 are in [[eastern Germany]] ([[Berlin]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]], parts of [[Saxony]] and [[Brandenburg]])		Shorter autobahns that are of regional importance (e.g. connecting two major cities or regions within Germany) have a double digit number (e.g. [[Bundesautobahn 24\|A 24]], connecting Berlin and Hamburg). The system is as follows:

			* A 10 to A 19 are in eastern Germany (Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, parts of Saxony and Brandenburg)
	* A 20 to A 29 in northern and northeastern Germany		* A 20 to A 29 in northern and northeastern Germany
	* A 30 to A 39 in [[Lower Saxony]] (northwestern Germany)		* A 30 to A 39 in Lower Saxony (northwestern Germany)
	* A 40 to A 49 in the [[Rhine-Ruhr]] Area		* A 40 to A 49 in the Rhine-Ruhr Area
	* A 50 to A 59 also in the [[Rhine-Ruhr]] Area		* A 50 to A 59 also in the Rhine-Ruhr Area
	* A 60 to A 69 in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Saarland]] and [[Hesse]]		* A 60 to A 69 in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Hesse
	* A 70 to A 79 in [[Thuringia]], northern [[Bavaria]] and parts of [[Saxony]]		* A 70 to A 79 in Thuringia, northern Bavaria and parts of Saxony
	* A 80 to A 89 in [[Baden-Württemberg]]		* A 80 to A 89 in Baden-Württemberg
	* A 90 to A 99 in (southern) [[Bavaria]]		* A 90 to A 99 in (southern) Bavaria

	There are also very short autobahns, of local importance (such as ~~[[beltway]]s~~, or the [[Bundesautobahn 555\|A 555]] from [[Cologne]] to [[Bonn]]). These usually have three numbers, the first one of which is similar to the system above, depending on the region.		There are also very short autobahns, of local importance (such as beltways, or the [[Bundesautobahn 555\|A 555]] from Cologne to Bonn). These usually have three numbers, the first one of which is similar to the system above, depending on the region.

	===Switzerland===		===Switzerland===
	In [[Switzerland]], it is impractical to navigate using the autobahn numbers; instead it is useful to steer toward the largest city that lies in the intended target region; this is because traffic signs display the city names much more prominently than in Germany. In Switzerland, exits occur with greater frequency than in the other two nations.		In Switzerland, it is impractical to navigate using the autobahn numbers; instead it is useful to steer toward the largest city that lies in the intended target region; this is because traffic signs display the city names much more prominently than in Germany. In Switzerland, exits occur with greater frequency than in the other two nations.

	==History==		==History==
	===Germany===		===Germany===
	~~[[Image:German Autobahn 1936 1939.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|A German autobahn in the 1930s]]~~		The idea for the construction of the autobahn was first conceived during the days of the Weimar Republic, but apart from the [[AVUS]] in Berlin, construction was slow, and most projected sections did not progress much beyond the planning stage due to economic problems and a lack of political support. One project was the private initiative ''HaFraBa'' which planned a "car-only road" (the name ''autobahn'' was created in 1929) crossing Germany from Hamburg in the North via central Frankfurt am Main to Basel in Switzerland. Parts of the HaFraBa were completed in the 1930s and early 1940s, but construction eventually was halted by World War II.
	~~[[Image:Old_Autobahn_DE.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|The original, two-lane autobahn, with no emergency lane (Germany)]]~~
	~~[[Image:Swiss_Autobahn_Sign.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Swiss autobahn signs have a green background instead of a blue one (Germany, Austria)]]~~
	~~[[Image:Autobahn Overhead Sign.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|Typical section of modern autobahn near an exchange, with overhead direction signs.]]~~
	The idea for the construction of the autobahn was first conceived during the days of the [[Weimar Republic]], but apart from the [[AVUS]] in [[Berlin]], construction was slow, and most projected sections did not progress much beyond the planning stage due to economic problems and a lack of political support. One project was the private initiative ''HaFraBa'' which planned a "car-only road" (the name ''autobahn'' was created in 1929) crossing Germany from [[Hamburg]] in the North via central [[Frankfurt am Main]] to [[Basel]] in [[Switzerland]]. Parts of the HaFraBa were completed in the 1930s and early 1940s, but construction eventually was halted by [[World War II]].

	Just days after the [[1933~~]] [[Nazism\|~~Nazi]] takeover, [[Adolf Hitler]] enthusiastically embraced an ambitious autobahn construction project and appointed [[Fritz Todt]] the Inspector General of German Road Construction. Soon, over 100,000 laborers worked at construction sites all over Germany. As well as ~~[[job creation program\|~~providing employment]] and improved infrastructure, necessary for economic recovery efforts, the project was also a great success for propaganda purposes. It has been said that another aim of the autobahn project, beyond creating national unity and strengthening centralized rule, was to provide mobility for the movement of military forces. This, however, overlooks the fact that gradients on autobahns built before the war were far too steep for the goods vehicles of the time~~{{Fact\|date=February 2007}}~~. The autobahn's main purpose, then, was to enable a large proportion of the population to drive long distances in their own cars, enjoying the countryside along the way. This explains some of the autobahn's routing (as at Irschenberg on the A 8 from [[Munich]] to [[Salzburg]]) which offers spectacular views but is impractical for today's heavy goods traffic ~~(see [[Nazi architecture]])~~.		Just days after the 1933 Nazi takeover, Adolf Hitler enthusiastically embraced an ambitious autobahn construction project and appointed Fritz Todt the Inspector General of German Road Construction. Soon, over 100,000 laborers worked at construction sites all over Germany. As well as providing employment and improved infrastructure, necessary for economic recovery efforts, the project was also a great success for propaganda purposes. It has been said that another aim of the autobahn project, beyond creating national unity and strengthening centralized rule, was to provide mobility for the movement of military forces. This, however, overlooks the fact that gradients on autobahns built before the war were far too steep for the goods vehicles of the time. The autobahn's main purpose, then, was to enable a large proportion of the population to drive long distances in their own cars, enjoying the countryside along the way. This explains some of the autobahn's routing (as at Irschenberg on the A 8 from Munich to Salzburg) which offers spectacular views but is impractical for today's heavy goods traffic.

	The autobahns formed the first limited-access, high-speed road network in the world, with the first section from [[Frankfurt am Main]] to [[Darmstadt]] opening in 1935. This straight section was used for high speed record attempts by the [[Grand Prix motor racing\|Grand Prix]] racing teams of [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Auto Union]] until a fatal accident involving popular German race driver [[Bernd Rosemeyer]] in early 1938. A similar high speed section was built between [[Dessau]] and [[Halle, Saxony-Anhalt\|Halle]].		The autobahns formed the first limited-access, high-speed road network in the world, with the first section from Frankfurt am Main to Darmstadt opening in 1935. This straight section was used for high speed record attempts by the [[Grand Prix motor racing\|Grand Prix]] racing teams of [[Mercedes-Benz]] and [[Auto Union]] until a fatal accident involving popular German race driver [[Bernd Rosemeyer]] in early 1938. A similar high speed section was built between [[Dessau]] and [[Halle, Saxony-Anhalt\|Halle]].

	During [[World War II]], the central reservation of some autobahns were paved to allow their conversion into auxiliary airports. Aircraft were either concealed in numerous tunnels or camouflaged in nearby woods. However, for the most part, the autobahns were not militarily significant. Motor vehicles could not carry goods as quickly or in as much bulk as trains could, and the autobahns could not be used by [[tank]]s as their weight and [[caterpillar track]]s tore up the roads' delicate surfaces. Furthermore, the general shortage of gasoline which Germany experienced during much of the war, as well as the relatively low number of trucks and motor vehicles badly needed for direct support of military operations, further decreased the attractiveness of autobahns for significant transport. As a result, most military and economic freight continued to be carried by rail. After the war, numerous sections of the autobahns were in bad shape, severely damaged by heavy Allied bombing and military demolition. As well, thousands of kilometers of autobahns remained unfinished, their construction brought to a halt by [[1943]] due to the increasing demands of the war effort.		During [[World War II]], the central reservation of some autobahns were paved to allow their conversion into auxiliary airports. Aircraft were either concealed in numerous tunnels or camouflaged in nearby woods. However, for the most part, the autobahns were not militarily significant. Motor vehicles could not carry goods as quickly or in as much bulk as trains could, and the autobahns could not be used by [[tank]]s as their weight and [[caterpillar track]]s tore up the roads' delicate surfaces. Furthermore, the general shortage of gasoline which Germany experienced during much of the war, as well as the relatively low number of trucks and motor vehicles badly needed for direct support of military operations, further decreased the attractiveness of autobahns for significant transport. As a result, most military and economic freight continued to be carried by rail. After the war, numerous sections of the autobahns were in bad shape, severely damaged by heavy Allied bombing and military demolition. As well, thousands of kilometers of autobahns remained unfinished, their construction brought to a halt by [[1943]] due to the increasing demands of the war effort.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:40, 12 March 2007
Line 145:		Line 145:
	* [[Road transport]]		* [[Road transport]]
	* [[Toll road]]		* [[Toll road]]
	* [[List of German expressions in English]]		* [[Autoroute]] (France)
	* [[Autoroute]] ([[France]])		* [[Autostrada]] (Italy)
	* [[Autostrada]] ([[Italy]])

	==Film==		==Film==