What is the optimal speed on the Autobahn?

Is there an optimal speed on the Autobahn? If you drive in the right lane at 120 km/h, you will often be overtaken by significantly faster vehicles. This can often be observed in rural areas in particular: Many (Sunday) drivers rarely get to drive their car properly. That’s why you really step on the gas for the 10 km route to the next town. But that’s not economical. Especially not if you longer distances has to cope with. For example, if you drove the route Berlin > Munich at a constant speed of 160 km/h, you would be something faster at the destination, but needs significantly more fuel and has to stay focused all the time. You may arrive at your destination completely exhausted. There is no such thing as an optimal speed on the Autobahn. It depends on factors such as the engine, the route to be taken and weather conditions. The recommended speed of 130 km/h, which applies on German autobahns, is a value that enables rapid and reasonably economical travel.

How do I find my speed?

• Decide on a cruising speed! Think about how far you have to drive, possibly when you have to arrive and calculate the weather conditions. Is it necessary, for example, to drive 210 km/h to have a coffee with relatives?
• Avoid frequent speed changes!If you want to drive economically, don’t let your engine power and free, well-constructed motorways tempt you into speeding. Maintain your speed, eg 120 km/h. Do not brake radically at a limit of 100 km/h, allow small differences to “roll out”.
• Pay attention to the hints to drive downhill on freeways
• Avoid speeds over 200 km/h. Above a certain speed, every vehicle requires significantly more fuel due to the strong air resistance. Motorway speeders who come at high speeds, for example 180 km/h, at an overtaking vehicle (eg 100 km/h) and have to brake hard have the highest possible wear on tires and brakes. In addition, the risk of a fatal accident due to “pushing” is extremely high.
• Don’t overtake pointlessly! On a motorway with little traffic, not every vehicle that can be seen in the distance should be overtaken immediately.
• Use your cruise control! (so-called. “cruise control system“) If included in the equipment, always use your cruise control on motorways! Once it is activated, it maintains the currently driven speed permanently. You no longer have to step on the gas. As soon as you brake, the cruise control switches off and has to be activated again. Depending on the car brand, explore yourself in the manual.

Citroen DS3 cruise control