Your Nation's Highway System

[Orlkjestad]

Basically, you tell NS what highway system you use.

Orlkjestad's federal highways highways are called Raalstou, or routes. They usually consist of 4 or 5 lanes, but ocassionaly, especially on high traffic routes, they have 6 lanes. The typical speed limit is 39-45kph (kilometers per hour). They are operated by the government.

Orlkjestad's provincial highways, or Haalsei, are basically the same as Raalstou, except they are indicated by different symbols and are operated by the province.

Orlkjestad's public freeways, or Fraalstei, are the same as Raalstou or Haalsei, except they are indicated by differnt symbols and are operated by taxpayers.

Pictures:

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Aerial view of Route 238W at downtown Kolsvabard

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View of Highway 59F in the industrial district of Uthusk

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Aerial view of Fraalstei 127R at Downtown Svolaarei

[Guanzhong]

An extensive national highway system was deemed impractical for a nation the size of The Peoples' Republic of Guanzhong. The cost alone was a significant issue, and it's utility would have been questionable as most of the population is either rural or living in a city with a quality public transportation system, two groups which have little use for automobiles. National commercial and frieght travel is typically done by rail, though there are airports scattered across the nation as well.

Cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas do have highway networks connecting urban areas and reducing congestion in the busiest urban centers, though as stated earlier the vast majority of the citizenry uses public transportation or cycling/walking for intercity transportation.

[Orlkjestad]

Bump.

[Maraque]

The Kingdom hosts a vast, extensive and highly maintained highway system. The system falls into three classifications:

A1
A2
A3

A1 roadways are primarily in high traffic areas, boasting 16 lanes (eight in each direction). These superhighways are needed in order to allow the 500 million cars on Maraquean roads to get where they're going quickly. They are primarily on the perimeter of high population centers and business avenues.

A2 roadways are moderately busy highways, boasting 14 lanes (seven in each direction). These roads are outside of the city centers, and connect all the major cities and suburbs together through a massive and highly efficient map of roadways. Delivery trucks are only allowed to travel on these roads when making deliveries.

A3 roadways are heavy traffic areas within cities and suburbs. They have 12 lanes (six in each direction). These roadways are most congested during rush hour traffic in the morning and early afternoon, but are for the most part clear. They are connected to A2 and A3 roadways via roundabouts, on-ramps, and other thoroughfares.

[Sorgan]

Generally there are three lanes. Simply for Slow-Mid-And Fast. Though, our high way system is composed off of intertwining lanes that go across,under,and above other lanes makeing it highly impossible to tell what's going on by looking at it. Many twists and turns can be found with little straight roads.

[Jalanat]

Jalanat's highways typically have 4 lanes, there are no speed-limits on the highways (however there are speed-limits in urban zones)
Highway interchanges are typically Turbo Roundabouts

schematics of a turbo roundabout.
or are Cloverleaf interchanges
between highway and non-highway roads the Diamond interchange is mostly used.

some pictures of our highway system.

[Orlkjestad]

Bump.

[Grays Harbor]

Our nations highway system is large and well developed. It is divided into three major subdivisions:

1.) the Royal National Highway System, operated and maintained by the Transportation Ministry. There are 2 types of Highways, Limited access (specific on/off ramps) and unlimited access (secondary roads feed directly onto the highway)

2.) Provincial Highways, operated and maintained by the seperate Ducal governments

3.) County Highways, operated and maintained by the individual Counties.

Standard roadsigns as used in the Kingdom

[Van Luxemburg]

(OOC: Ported from both Rothstein+Lange and my factbook.)

Van Luxemburger Autobahn

The A1, here pictured near Arnsberg, is a prime example of a Van Luxemburger Autobahn

The Van Luxemburger Autobahn has a thicker road surface, comes with 3 lanes per direction as standard, and can take cars travelling at a maximum speed of 400 km/h on straights (purely theoretical). Therefore, no speed limit is imposed (unless it is a very busy stretch of road, The usual limit of 130 km/h is imposed.)

Like the Gelbe Autobahn, the Van Luxemburger Autobahn is delivered with emergency shoulders, service stations every 30 km (18.6 miles) Parkings with WC every 10 km (6.2 miles), roadside signs per national standards, DRIPs/Variable Message Signs and Emergency Telephones. A new system included is the Electronical Traffic Monitoring system, that will automatically control traffic densities. If the road gets too busy, it will either block entrances, or open more lanes (or close them in case of an accident). This is done by overhead portals with cameras, or sensors under the road.
A further addition to this is a heating and cooling system that can cool or heat asphalt to a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. This is done by heating and cooling water elements placed under the road surface: the water that gets heated during the summer can be stored for use in the winter, and vice-versa. Plus, a special technology in the asphalt makes sure that the road never freezes over if the temperature of the road might get below 4 degrees Celsius: microscopic salt particles have been enclosed in the top asphalt layer. At low temperatures, microscopically small cracks in the road surface make that the salt comes into contact with the water on the asphalt and prevents it from freezing over.

The basic construction of a Van Luxemburger Autobahn consists of 3 lanes, each 4.5 metres wide. Once again, more lanes are possible, as well as 2 lanes to keep the costs down.
A 5-metre wide median is equipped with both concrete barriers and guardrails to keep cars from entering the opposite lanes.
Motorway acceleration and deceleration lanes (at entrances and exits) are long, at least 1.5 km, to let the cars get up to speed.
The road never crosses another road directly, but with bridges and/or cloverleafs. Tunnels and bridges are constructed when the Autobahn runs through a natural object, such as a mountain or river.
A maximum hill grading of 3%
Asphalt with a concrete under layer, the complete construction at least 2 metres thick. Possibility for a pile foundation.
Ecoducts and aquaducts for safe animal and shipping crossing.

A Tourist’s guide to
The Van Luxemburger Autobahn (see spoiler)

It could well be every motorist’s dream: A motorway without any speedlimits. Van Luxemburg offers these, plenty of them. But, the reality might be different; With today’s traffic, the Autobahn’s around cities are very crowded, and do not allow high speeds.
Interconnecting motorways, however, are barred from any speed limit, and high-powered luxury vehicles and sportscars usually fly by with speeds in excess of 180 km/h.
The roads are usually well-serviced, and the death toll is low, due to the skill of the drivers, used to the high speeds of the motorway. This, and the mighty power of the Automobile lobby (a lobby even containing the head-of-state, Grand Duke Koen van Luxemburg), has never seen an initiative to universally minimize the speed. The advised speed is clearly stated to be 130 km/h, although many drivers tend to ignore this advise.

This guide from the National Tourist Board of Van Luxemburg will try to make you more familiar with the customs and rules on the Van Luxemburgian Autobahns. This guide can be used to finish the Van Luxemburgian Motorway Familiarisation Test within one hour, instead of two.

STEP I: A rental car.

Who might visit Van Luxemburg, and doesn’t have any family living here, will need a rental car (Or can use public transport, ofcourse). Major rental companies will be based at every airport around Van Luxemburg, and some will also own offices in major cities or at train stations. Please mind the following:

-Rental Cars in Van Luxemburg have a manual gearbox. If needed or wanted, a vehicle with automatic gearbox can be delivered. Please bear in mind that these vehicles will need to be reserved specifically, since there are not too many available.
-Always check the car for possible damage before you hire the car. Rental Companies can oblige you to pay for damage that was already there when you hired the car. If the damage is reported beforehand, There will be no problems afterwards.
-Most rental companies keep several high-powered vehicles (e.g. Porsche, Ferrari) in stock for the tourists that want to hire them to experience the Autobahn in another (faster) way. Usually, these vehicles are very expensive to hire.
-Most rental companies have no limits to the amount of kilometres that can be driven with the car; However, Fuel will need to be paid by the person who hires the car.
-To hire a car, you will need a valid driver’s license, an MFT Certificate and a passport; rental cars are always insured, since it is obliged by law that any (road-legal) vehicle must be insured.

STEP II: The Motorway Familiarisation Test

Every tourist willing to drive a car in Van Luxemburg must take the MFT, or Motorway Familiarisation Test. This is only for the first time they will be driving a car in Van Luxemburg; All times afterwards you can show your certificate to the rental company and the Police. The MFT certificate must be with you every time you are driving a car; Penalties of up to 200 Euros are possible when the driver doesn’t have the required certificate.

It is encouraged for all persons 18 years and up with a valid driving license to take the test, instead of only the driver. However, if any of the passengers will not have an MFT, they will not be fined by the Police. Please bear in mind that only persons of 18 years and up are allowed to drive a car; minors (under 18 years) with a valid driving license are not allowed to drive a vehicle in van Luxemburg.

The MFT consists of a theoretical lesson and an Exam; The theoretical exam can be finished in an hour. The theoretical lesson consists of an explanation of the Van Luxemburgian Road system in a classroom, which is not compulsory. If both have been finished with good results, the MFT certificate will be given out by the examinator. Costs for this one-time test usually are around 50 Euros.

STEP III: Learning the rules

The Traffic Laws might be different then the ones in your home nation. Please read this section carefully!

The minimum age of driving in Van Luxemburg is 18. The drivers usually get their license after almost half a year of training, both practical and theoretical. The drivers are usually calm and skilled, and try to keep aggression out of traffic. Using your headlamps is usually frowned upon; if it happens, the driver is indicating that he wants to get past. Several General Laws:

-Traffic drives on the right, passes on the left. The so-called Rechtsfahrgebot enforces this by ordering the driver to keep right whenever possible. Fines for driving too long and unnecessary on the left range from 50 to 350 euros, while overtaking over the right can cost up to 500 Euros, depending on the situation. In heavy traffic and traffic jams, it is allowed to switch lanes from left to right and overtake someone.
- The Police reserves the right to collect minor fines (up to 500 euros) on the spot. If the driver is unable to comply, a bill will be sent to it’s home address. However, the Police prefers to collect fines from foreigners on the spot, since it is hard to send the bill to a foreign nation. Be prepared to have your car towed away if you cannot comply, but it is also possible that the Police will bring you to the nearest bank to pick up the required amount of money there.
-Bicycles, mopeds, and pedestrians are specifically prohibited from using the Autobahn, as are any other vehicles with a maximum speed rating of less than 60 km/h.
-Stopping, parking, U-turns, and backing-up are strictly forbidden, including on shoulders and ramps (except for emergencies.)
-Entering and exiting is permitted only at marked interchanges.
-During traffic jams, motorists in the left lane are required to move as far to the left as possible and those in the adjacent center or right lane must move as far to the right in their lane as possible, thus creating a gap between the lanes for emergency vehicles to pass through. However, emergency vehicles can also use the emergency shoulder.
-If you have a breakdown or accident, you must move to the shoulder if possible and place a warning triangle 200 meters behind the scene. You must report the incident to the authorities using the nearest emergency phone.
-It is illegal to run out of fuel on the Autobahn. Technically, there is no law specifically against this, but it is illegal to stop unnecessarily on the Autobahn and this law is also applied to people who run out of fuel as such an occurrence is deemed to be preventable.
- It is a custom to use the hazard blinkers to warn other drivers behind you that there is a traffic jam ahead.
-The Speed Limit is non-existent, Advised speed is 130 km/h, unless stated otherwise alongside the road. Vehicles with trailers and vehicles above 3,5 tons must obey to a speed limit of at least 80 km/h, and a maximum of 100 km/h

-Always obey the limits and advice set on the Electronic Dynamic signs overhead. Please note that if these signs give a maximum speed, traffic cameras and speed checks will be aware of this and go off at speeds above the maximum.
-Do not forget that, in a car accident, the vehicle with the higher speed is always guilty.

A list of possible warnings/limits on the Electronic Dynamic Signs. Every lane has one screen for itself. (e.g. in this illustration there would be three lanes in this direction)

STEP IV: Traffic, Police and Construction

All cars in Van Luxemburg actively scan the radio station you last tuned into for traffic messages. It will break into anything you were currently doing with the radio, playing a CD for example, with renewed traffic information and important warnings. The Police itself will warn for speed checks beforehand, and will put up alternative routes if there is a traffic jam. It is also possible they will block off roads due to a smog warning, but this is relatively rare.

Please be always polite to your fellow drivers. If you are not polite to them, they will not be polite to you. Never block someone’s way when he is driving faster then you, and try to keep off the horn, unless you are able to prevent an accident. Using the horn is considered very rude, and will not be appreciated.

The Police operates a separate service for the Motorways, the Autobahnpolizei. These officers are equipped with faster cars and have had special high-speed driving trainings. These units do not crack down on speed violation that much, but they will rather stop cars which show aggressive driving, dangerous behaviour or are subject to a traffic violation. Fines range from 10 euros to a driving ban and confiscation of the car. A small list is included below. Some fines are indicated in price ranges, this due to the situation in which it takes place. Please be aware that these are not set fines, and the fine might differ slightly from the price set here. The Police force is however not funded by corruption, and there are heavy penalties for it.

-Not using blinkers while changing lanes: 10 Euro
-Signalling with headlights in dangerous situations (e.g. in corners, blinding oncoming traffic): 25-100 Euro
- Using a cellphone without handsfree set: 175 Euro
- Overtaking on the right: 25-500 Euro
-Driving on the left unnecessarily 50-350 Euro
-Endangering other drivers: 500-10,000 euro, or driving ban plus possible confiscation of vehicle. (there are known cases that the driver had to appear in court)
- Aggressive driving: 200-1000 Euro, Driving ban plus possible confiscation of vehicle (there are known cases that the driver had to appear in court)
-Speed violation: 2 Euro per kilometre too fast, baseline fine 20 Euro. (speeds below 5 km/h too fast are not fined, so 6 kilometres too fast would be 22 Euro. However, Speed violations are not the main priority of the police)
- Resisting arrest (e.g. beating an officer, wounding an officer or driving away after a ‘stop’ sign.): 2,000 euros and up, plus a punishment to be decided by a Van Luxemburgian court
- Insulting an officer during duty (e.g. calling names, bullying, etcetera): 50 euros and up, possible arrest
-Owning a weapon without valid documentation (this also applies to foreigners): confiscation of weapon and a punishment by Van Luxemburgian court.

For a full list, please inquire at a van Luxemburgian embassy, or at a Police Station in Van Luxemburg

You will find the Police officers to be polite, and not aggressive. Usually, they will not be heavily armed, but will carry a pistol with them in their car. Since several decades, the van Luxemburgian Police also has undercover cars driving around on all roads, these will record the traffic situation and stop vehicles accordingly. These have the same rights and duties as normal policemen, but please do not hesitate to ask for an identification. Since several years, the Internet is sprawling with possible license plates for these cars. The Autobahnpolizei has already attended citizens of Van Luxemburg that it is useless to record them, since they change the license plates of the vehicles in irregular patterns.

The Police usually uses a flashing sign to pull cars over to the side of the road. These signs mostly read ‘Stop – Polizei’ (or Police),with ‘Bitte Folgen’ or ‘Please Follow’ added to it in the next flash. Other possibilities are being stopped by hand or a so-called ‘lollypop’, a sign held by the officer, which indicates you to stop.

Construction sites are, due to the good state of the Autobahn, usually present to maintain the road. Please note that, during construction, speed is limited (limits differ per site) and that yellow lines supersede the normal white lines on the asphalt. Always be careful at construction sites; there might be people walking around!



STEP V: Service areas (Raststätte)

The Service areas along the Autobahn are usually well-maintained, and Contain a filling station, a restaurant or snack shop, toilets (and showers, occasionally) plus enough parking space. Most also have WiFi Wireless Internet and a playground, some others might have chapels, shops with local produce

Fuel is expensive in Van Luxemburg, mostly due to taxes. The Current price (January 2007) is around 1 Euro per litre Diesel and 1 euro and 20 cents for a litre of petrol (Euro RON95) There are also several highly priced fuel, which will improve the prestations of your car and will reduce the amount of fuel used. Think of Shell V-Power and BP Ultimate. Van Luxemburg might use different octane levels than in your country; please refer to the car manual on what kind of fuel to fill up your car with.

Relatively popular with so-called ‘truckers’ is the Autohof. These large rest areas just off the Autobahn are usually cheaper then the Raststätte along the Autobahn. They are marked along the Autobahn, and so are fast-food restaurants off-route.

Even more present are the simple parking places, always including toilets and an emergency phone (These are also available every 2 km. In tunnels, they are 100 metres apart. They have speakers available in many different languages. If the language you requested is not available, the dispatcher will likely speak English to you, or any other language that suits you better. They will be able to dispatch special Autobahn emergency services and repair vehicles from the VLMA, the Van Luxemburgian Mobility Association.)

This concludes the Autobahn Guide. We wish you a great holiday in Van Luxemburg!