While it is a well-known fact that there is no speed limit on some sections of Germany's autobahn, racing at high speeds is strictly prohibited. A Czech businessman has found himself in hot water with the German police, after driving so fast that prosecutors could consider it a one-man race.
A Czech businessman has found himself the subject of a police investigation after speeding his Bugatti Chiron down a stretch of motorway between Berlin and Magdeburg. Radim Passer posted videos of the drive on YouTube, some of which featured a virtual speedometer that showed the car reaching speeds of 417km / h.
The recordings were taken last year but were only recently posted online and have since been viewed millions of times. “We thank God for the safety and good circumstances,” wrote the Czech-born millionaire in the comments. He also defended the drive against his detractors, who took to the comments to voice their displeasure, by saying he had good visibility and emphasised his car’s brake power.
On Monday, the prosecutor’s office in the town of Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, announced it had taken over an investigation that had been started by the highway police after the businessman’s joyride was reported across the media. Prosecutors could deem Passer to have been racing as, according to Germany’s criminal code, a driver can be judged to have been racing if they drive “at an inappropriate speed and in a manner that grossly violates the traffic code and is reckless.”
The prosecution will continue to investigate once all documents relating to the incident have been received, which could happen as early as next week. If convicted, Passer could face two years imprisonment and / or a fine.
Following the incident, Germany’s Transport Minister Volker Wissing said that, despite there being no speed limit on the autobahn, the car should always be under the driver's control. State Premier for Lower Saxony Stephan Weil indicated his desire for a speed limit on the autobahn, saying there were many good reasons for doing so.