I often wonder what would happen if there were fewer regulations and therefore more freedom.

Germany’s autobahn is a freeway 8,073 miles long; with no speed limits.

There are signs recommending limits, on urbanized, substandard, accident-prone, or roads under construction. For example, you might see 80 mph recommended on most sections of the highway, and 62 mph on most urban segments.

Do these fairly lax driving laws result in more accidents? Well, the U.S. has 11.6 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Germany? 4.3. Does this data show that Germans are simply better drivers than the average U.S. citizen?

I would argue that increased freedom does come with a price. And in Germany, the price of freedom has resulted in an increase in driving responsibilities.

In Germany getting a license is no trivial matter. Drivers have to take 14 required theory lessons and at least a dozen driving sessions. It’s almost as if they traded the regulations of the high way to regulate the driver’s license process.

Just yesterday I took the driving test to get my license, it involved 15 minutes of observed driving. This is a very minimal requirement. So it does not come as a big surprise that 1 in 5 of 16-year-old drivers has an accident within their first year of driving.

It almost appears to be a trade of sorts, Germany has strict licensing regulations but lax driving laws. While the U.S. has lax licensing regulations but strict driving laws.

I’m still curious as to whether the regulations are the reason for the increased safety in Germany. Maybe it’s just the culture of driving. After all the United States has a high rate of road accident fatalities through alcohol at 31 percent while the rate in Germany is only 9 percent. I’m still forming an opinion on the effects of fewer government regulations and more freedom.