Would You Support German Autobahn-Style Highways Across Oklahoma?

If you've ever traveled Oklahoma's Turner Turnpike between OKC and Tulsa, you might already know it's the Wild West of highway travel.

Sure, there are posted speeds but only a few pay them any attention. Traffic mostly travels at the speed of "They can't pull us all over." It's been my experience it ebbs and flows between 70 MPH when truckers decide to hold up the traffic, and 90+ MPH when you get into a good convoy of passenger vehicles.

It begs the question, is Oklahoma ready to try a speed-limit-less Autobahn-style highway?

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When it came up as a topic during a group meal over the weekend, opinions were split down the middle.

Half of everyone in that small sample agreed that speed limits on that particular stretch of road were useless, so why have limits at all?

The other half praised the speed limits in the name of safety convinced without them there would be mass death and carnage as if people didn't already make the drive at 90 MPH anyway...

Texas Has The Record

Currently, the highest speed limit in the USA is in Texas. A little stretch of TX-130 between North Austin and Seguin dubbed the Pickle Parkway where the posted speed limit is 85 MPH. It's a toll road, so much like Oklahoma, the rules can be different.

Are some stretches of Oklahoma toll roads ready to let loose the gas pedal?

How The Autobahn Works

While it's famous for the lack of speed limits, there are plenty of areas of this highway system with limits. Usually between the US-equivalent 70-80 MPH. Other parts of the country are as fast as you want with some select and very strict rules.

First off, most of the Autobahn is dictated by very strict lane laws which are enforced with zero tolerance. The left lane is for passing only, and the slower you travel, the further right you're supposed to drive. Oklahoma has this law on the books already, but it's rarely enforced.

Second, getting on and off the Autobahn is a carefully orchestrated skill. It's up to drivers entering the roadway to merge into traffic. It's not traffic's responsibility to make room for you--something Oklahoma can't seem to get right. It's as if Oklahoma drivers are so polite, they'll inconvenience everyone else on the road to allow someone driving super-slow to merge into the lane. This would cause accidents and congestion on the Autobahn.

Exiting the Autobahn is much of the same. You don't slow down until you're off the highway. That's what off-ramps are for.

Third, passing is supposed to work like this; you make sure you're pass won't slow down anyone else behind you. You speed up, merge into the passing lane, pass the vehicle ahead of you, and merge back as soon as safely possible without forcing the vehicle you passed to apply the brakes. Even forcing a tap of the brakes of the car behind you is considered cutting someone off, and it comes with a harsh fine.

Could Oklahoma Handle It?

The sheer rate at which Oklahomans drive the Turner Turnpike gives all the confidence in the world that the Sooner State could safely operate an Autobahn-style highway... but the three cornerstone rules of the Autobahn shrink that confidence quickly.

Oklahoma drivers are both too polite and too selfish driving along in their own little world to make this work initially, but even old dogs learn new tricks.

What do you think?