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Monika in Kaiserslautern asks:

We’ve had a discussion regarding the speed limits on the road which leads to the large vehicle inspection site (LVIS) gate at Ramstein Air Base. When one enters the road, there is a sign with max speed limit of 30 kph. However, the 30 kph limit is only valid until the 50 kph sign replaces the 30 kph speed limit ...There are quite a few drivers who think they can speed up to 100 kph because their car tells them so ... I find that unbelievable. Can you help me out here?

Monika, you’re absolutely right to be skeptical. Here’s the deal:

The road leading to Ramstein’s LVIS Gate is a bit of a jurisdictional black hole. Local and federal German authorities don’t claim ownership of it, and base officials say they aren’t sure it’s theirs either.

It’s been surprisingly hard to get a straight answer on what the speed limit actually is.

As you mentioned, when driving toward the LVIS Gate, the posted speed limit starts at 30 kph, eventually increasing to 50 kph. But when leaving the base, the same road is posted at 50 kph the entire way.

Why the limit changes depending on direction? No one we asked, including local police and air base reps, could explain.

As for the claim that it’s OK to drive 100 kph? That’s flat-out wrong.

We asked Westpfalz Police why some drivers’ dashboards display 100 kph as the speed limit, and here’s what they said:

“Many navigation systems or driver assistance systems that have traffic sign recognition display the current speed limit. However, these systems are not always error-free and should not be relied upon.

“Ultimately, only the speed limit indicated on the roadside sign counts. The information on the vehicle’s own display is completely irrelevant and will not be accepted as an excuse in the event of a speeding offense.”

Bottom line: Even if the posted speed limit signs are inconsistent or confusing, they are what matter — not your car’s GPS or onboard display.