Nurburgring to have Speed Limits !!!

http://www.pistonheads.com/trackday...sp?storyId=7864

'RING LIMITS'
The beginning of the end or a sensible safety measure?
The anomoly that is the infamous Nurburgring Nordshleife is coming under increasing scrutiny. For those that haven't been there it may come as a surprise to learn that the thirteen mile circuit is operated as a one way public toll road. Also, unlike on a track day, when operating as a public day there aren't marshalls on every corner - in fact you'll be lucky to see a marshall at all unless they're clearing up a crash.

GT3 Porsches may hurtle around there at 150mph but you'll also see coaches and families in their 406 Estates pootling about for a gander. No flags to warn you of slow vehicles and you never know what might be lurking around the next corner.

Crashes are frequent, and injuries and deaths - particularly to bikers - are numerous each year. It remains one of the most exciting and challenging roads in the world and until recently flew in the face of nanny state politics - if you wanted to take the risk, then it's your risk.

Now, measures are gradually being introduced to reduce the number of crashes. It's been reported that this year will see speed limits being enforced at certain points around the circuit. Some of these are expected to be quite low, particularly at Breidscheid where there's another entry point to the circuit. Until now, whilst the road has got speed limits, it wasn't until you crashed that you'd get any attention from the law.

No doubt the safety debate will continue. If people are made aware of the risks, do they have the right to put themselves at risk or do bureaucrats have the duty to reduce the risk of death and injury at any cost?

 

I would say that this is a retrograde step, much as reducing and enforcing speed limits on roads has made less difference to road deaths than the powers that be would have one believe.

People make errors and crash usually because they were going too fast for that stretch of track/road, or exceeding their own or their vehicles' capabilities. If they know the risks, then that's their choice assuming that it is only them that's involved. It is tragic when innocent people are also hurt and injured, and this must not be tolerated. If reducing speed really helps, then I'm all for it. However, I suspect it wouldn't. A better solution would be to train people not to crash.

Of particular relevance to the 'Ring would be to have certain times for people to pootle in buses and 406s, and other times for comitted drivers only.

I suspect the speed limit is a sop to the Green movement that is powerful in Germany.

Robert.