B. Lorenzo Buckinchere
Mar 22, 2026
In 2019, California state senator John Moorlach proposed introducing an autobahn-type freeway system to California. The idea was to try it in California first to see how it fares, before gradually introducing it to all 50 states.
I personally thought it was a good idea, then the pandemic struck, and there was radio silence. Everyone seemed to have forgotten all about the autobahn proposal, except me. Because Iâm a certified lead foot.
Now here is how I would propose introducing the autobahn to the U.S.
First of all, while we are on the topic, wanna know a really huge pet-peeve of mine that inspires road-rage? Slow drivers in the far-left lane. If you wanna drive slow, stay in the right lane. Hereâs how I would map it in our system as it currently stands.
Left Lane: 80 mph
Center Lane: 60 mph
Right Lane: 40 mph
Exit Ramp: 20 mph (because why speed when youâre about to hit a red light)
City streets: (ideally 30 mph, 40 max)
I might be a lead foot, but Iâm a courteous lead foot, and that alone gives me the authority to propose special new requirements for a prospective autobahn system that mightâve helped Moorlachâs proposal had he considered them.
First of all, the infrastructure.
Freeways would be six lanes wide with a concrete divider separating the two lanes to the left from regular lanes. Those two lanes are gonna be your autobahn lanes where those with special permits are free to go 100 miles an hour.
âBut that wall would cost the state millions!â
Fine! I guess there wouldnât be a divider. Instead, there would be officers on-site to give you a ticket if you are caught driving in the autobahn lane without a permit, which would cause the state to earn millions.
The other four lanes would be your regular lanes with regular speed limits for normies who didnât quite make the cut. 80, left. 60, center. 40, right, 20, exit ramp. Autobahn wouldnât apply to city streets.
Now for the licensing and requirements.
First of all, you would need to hold your driverâs license for 10 years before you qualify. That means ten years straight with no DUIs, or suspensions, and that includes transfers from other states. It also means that the youngest person to qualify would be no younger than 26 years of age in any given year.
Next, you would have to pay extra at the DMV for a special autobahn test that comes after 500 hours of race car training with Michael Schumaker, or a local enthusiast of his caliber.
You would have the option of applying for an autobahn upgrade to your pre-existing driverâs license during renewal. Either that, or you could be eligible to apply for an autobahn student permit within the two-year period leading up to your renewal once you have reached the ten year mark. That way, you have all the extra time you may need in order to complete your 500 hour training requirement.
Once you have passed the autobahn test, you would then be required to post an autobahn sticker to your license plate so the police will be able to tell from a mile away whether or not you belong in the autobahn lane.
Then there is the cost thatâs associated with becoming qualified. The DMV permit would cost extra. The 500 hours of Formula 1 training would cost money. Insurance companies might feel strongly compelled to raise their premiums on you like they do with men under 25. All that might run you upwards of a couple thousands. Maybe more!
But you might be willing to spend that once-in-a-lifetime cost if driving in a special autobahn lane at 100 mph is worth it to you. If youâre going to be dropping all that paper on the table for a card in your wallet, ya might as well throw a Mustang in the deal.
Now for the sobering reality. As wonderful as all that may sound in theory, having an autobahn in the U.S. would actually only work in every other state, except one.
Similar to gun control laws, California would also default on the option to introduce an autobahn into the state for the very simple fact that there are too many drug addicts out here.
But I can dream, can I?
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