259 mph on the Autobahn

Summary

A Bugatti Chiron owner set a new speed record of 417 km/h (259 mph) on a German autobahn, which is known for its sections without speed limits.

Abstract

A recent YouTube video showcased a driver achieving an unprecedented speed of 417 km/h (259 mph) on a German autobahn, potentially setting a new record for the highest speed on a public road. German autobahns are famous for areas without speed limits, attracting car enthusiasts from around the world to test the capabilities of their high-performance vehicles. The Bugatti Chiron, boasting 1500 hp, reached this speed on a straight, three-lane stretch in eastern Germany early on a Sunday morning, carefully chosen to minimize traffic. Despite the allure of speed, such driving is subject to strict traffic laws, and the driver may face legal repercussions for driving at a speed that could be considered reckless and endangering to others.

Opinions

The author suggests that while German autobahns are known for having no speed limits, most actually do have them, and the idea of limitless speed is more of an international perception.
The author implies that for most drivers, speeds of 200-250 km/h are sufficiently fast for public roads, and the experience of driving at such speeds is personally endorsed.
Preparation for such a high-speed drive involves selecting the right route and time, with the driver choosing a straight stretch of autobahn in eastern Germany and a time when traffic, including trucks and commuters, would be minimal.
The author emphasizes the meticulous preparation required for the record attempt, including a complete check of the vehicle by Bugatti's factory before the drive.
Despite the achievement, the author notes the potential legal consequences of driving at such extreme speeds, highlighting the importance of adhering to traffic laws and the dangers of long braking distances and the unpredictability of such high speeds for other road users.

259 mph on the Autobahn

A new record for a public road?

picture by wikipedia.de

A few days ago, a Youtube video made headlines showing a driver reaching a speed of 417 km/h or 259 mph on an autobahn. German autobahns are known for their lack of speed limits. Although most stretches of German autobahns actually have speed limits, internationally the term autobahn is associated with a public road with no speed limit. For this reason, many international guests come to Germany to sports cars with high speed.

For most drivers, however, it is sufficient to drive at speeds of 200 km/h (= 124 mph) or 250 km/h (= 155 mph). This is fast enough for a public road. I speak from experience.

Now a Bugatti Chiron owner has shown what his 1500 hp car is capable of and drove the speedometer needle up to 417 km/h or 259 mph.

picture by www.bild.de

Of course, such a high-speed drive requires good preparation. For one thing, a suitable route must be selected. The autobahns in eastern Germany, in particular, come into question here, as they are usually three lanes wide and straight. Then you have to pick the right day of the week. From Monday to Friday, German autobahns are full of trucks and cars. On the other hand, neither trucks (weekend driving ban) nor work-related drivers are on the road on weekends.

For this reason, the drive took place on a Sunday morning at around 4 a.m. on a highway in eastern Germany. The aforementioned speed of more than 250 mph was reached on a stretch of road that is approximately 10 km dead straight.

After the record-breaking driver received his Bugatti Chiron in 2018, it took another three years to achieve the record drive. Before this drive, however, he took his car back to the Bugatti factory and had it completely checked out. Only after Bugatti gave the car the okay could the drive get underway.

Even beyond a speed of 300 km/h (= 186 mph), the vehicle continued to accelerate until finally the speed of 417 km/h or 259 mph was reached.

But the question arises as to whether such a high speed is permitted on a German autobahn, regardless of the speed limit. All drivers in Germany are subject to Section 1 of the German Road Traffic Act, which states that anyone participating in traffic must behave in such a way that no one else is harmed, endangered or impeded, or inconvenienced more than is unavoidable under the circumstances, and that you may only drive your vehicle as fast as you can control it.

However, the driver of the Bugatti Chiron will probably have to face criminal investigations. This is because illegal street racing is prohibited in Germany, and driving at such a speed can also be accused of reckless behavior that is grossly contrary to traffic regulations.

After all, you only have to imagine how long the braking distance is when driving at a speed of 250 mph. Or imagine you are driving on the highway and want to change lanes and then someone comes along at 250 mph. You can’t even estimate this high speed.

Finally, to answer my initial question: Yes, it is a new record for speed on a German autobahn.

Thanks for reading.

If you enjoy reading stories like this and you want to support me, consider signing up for a Medium membership. Here you can sign for a membership. This will cost you only $5 a month and will give you access to all stories on Medium!