[DasIch]

Speaking as a German who spend quite some time driving in other European countries with speed limits, the difference is massive.

Elsewhere most people tend to drive at more or less at the maximum speed allowed. This makes for a very relaxed, easy albeit boring experience.

In Germany the difference in speed between the cars are a lot bigger, even in areas with a speed limit. In combination with the Rechtsfahrgebot (a law that makes driving in the right-most lane mandatory, unless you are overtaking or there is no space) you are constantly overtaking trucks and other cars, while others do so to you as well. Overtaking itself requires accelaration often time going beyond the actual speed limit so as not to slow down others too much which can be dangerous.

Furthermore you have to constantly monitor traffic so as not to be trapped on the right lane, if a larger group of cars comes up from behind, which happens frequently.

I highly doubt that current autonomous cars are capable of that to a degree, where I wouldn't be annoyed and wanted to take over. Especially at night, when it's raining, snowing, there is fog or a combination of these.

[joezydeco]

At least German drivers are predictable when it comes to Rechtsfahrgebot.

Contrast with American drivers, who will stay in whatever lane they want and/or pass at high speed in any lane they deem open.

[DasIch]

Maybe my standards are too high but whenever I'm driving on the autobahn I get the expression that some drivers didn't get the memo about the Rechtsfahrgebot.

[rndn]

It would be actually interesting to hear about this difference from someone who is working on autonomous cars for both highways and Autobahns. I still wouldn't call the difference 'massive' (at least not in terms of how much the technology would need to advance). Overtaking and avoiding slows down is an issue on highways in other countries too and once it is implemented it could possibly be easily adapted to traffic moving at a faster pace. Being trapped on the right lane happens quite often, but you generally have this problem when the current lane is crowded. It's not a special case for the Autobahn. I agree that the speed difference can be much higher which would possibly require a ToF sensor with higher range than what is currently built into the Google cars (only about 200 m).

[psycovic23]

I do work on this. Your last point is correct (and probably the biggest issue). Others include weather and general vision problems.