Why is the Autobahn Safer than US Interstates?
The Autobahn is a world renowned highway system in Germany which is touted for its lack of speed limitations. Drivers from all over the world travel to Germany to indulge themselves in the thrill of driving at high speeds. But as you grant autobahn drivers the freedom to drive faster, won’t their safety be in jeopardy?
Not necessarily. In stark contrast to common sense the autobahn, where some drivers exceed 200 mph, is relatively safe. The fatality rate on the German autobahn is actually much lower than that observed on the US interstate system. The Economist reports that per every 100,000 people under the age of 24, in the US nearly 20 die in auto accidents compared to approximately 7 in Germany. Even with this low amount of deaths, one would assume that the "dangerous" autobahn accounted for most of the German accidents. Yet, in 2009 accidents on the autobahn accounted for less than 10%. How can this be?
http://www.thinktransatlantic4.com/2012/04/is-autobahn-safer-than-us-interstates.html
The US interstate system is nearly 9 times longer than the autobahn system. The fatality rate on the autobahn is roughly double that of the US.