GERMAN MOTOR ROADS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1938, Page 2

GERMAN MOTOR ROADS

EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD. The British Minister of Transport (Mr. L. Burgin), upon his return to London from a recent inspection of the German system'of motor roads, stated that the autobahnen set an example to the world that no country could afford to ignore. There is much to be learned, he said, from the new motor roads of Germany. An enlightening set of comparative statistics recently issued by the In-spector-General of German Highways (Dr. Todt) throws some light on the practical benefits of the autobahnen to transport. The figures are based on comparative tests made with motor cars on a new motor road and over an ordinary* highway running practically parallel with an autobahnen between cities 91 miles apart. The ordinary highway was nine miles longer (100 miles). On the old highway a motorist passed through three large cities and 35 towns and villages. 38 miles of the route being through populated centres, whereas the motor road does not go through any towns whatever. For every 100 kilometres (62 1-8 miles) of the old highway there arc 136 grade crossings. 7 railroad crossings, and 463 branch roads. In the same mileage there are only eight branch roads linked up with the autobahnen. The test also showed that on the motor road a car can travel safely at 92 per cent, to 93 per cent, of its maximum speed, while only about 56 per cent, is the limit lor safe driving on the ordinary highway.