Free ahead: there is no speed limit on german highways – the question is for how much longer. A study by allianz direct now reveals a surprising turnaround.
Is the speed limit coming to german highways?? The auto industry is gearing up for change.
The beauty of germany is its highways without speed limits speed limit. Many national and international car drivers would probably sign this sentence. But how long will the unrestricted driving experience last?? The debate about the 130 speed limit has been reignited by a polarizing statement from chancellor candidate armin laschet. A study that puts the speed limit in a new light also comes as a surprise. What really comes out when you ask car drivers.
Germans discover speed limit 130 for themselves
The question of a speed limit on highways has long divided the population. A recent survey by allianz direct yields an astonishing result: 71 percent of germans want a general speed limit on highways. Of course, there are also opponents of the speed limit. ÜWhat is surprising, however, is that it is Generation Z, of all people, who are close to fridays for the future.
But the first carmakers are already jumping on the trend. BMW throttles back at 150 km/h for e-car models of the mini brand. Speed is explicitly taken out- Fast driving ade? A new federal government could seal this decision.
According to allianz direct, one in three respondents is in favor of a speed limit of 130 km/h. One in ten sees a general lower speed limit. 32 percent would like to drive a little faster and favor 140 to 150 km/h as the upper limit. The survey participants are consistent: if there were to be a speed limit on german highways, a quarter of the survey participants would take the plane more often. The data can be found in the allianz direct auto report. For the study, the insurance company made a representative selection from 1.000 car owners and non-car owners between 18 and 45 years of age.
Women tend to be more in favor of a speed limit than men. 45 percent of women surveyed are in favor of the limit, but only 33 percent of men. 25 percent of women consistently reject a speed limit. Men are in the lead here: 34 percent of men are completely against a speed limit. This survey result could serve as a reason: 46 percent of women feel disturbed by fast driving.
frequent drivers and young people reject speed limit
Insurers conclude that frequent drivers in particular want to drive fast. 56 percent of car drivers who drive more than 50.000 kilometers per year reject a speed limit on highways. With this result, they also represent the largest group of opponents. 57 percent of those surveyed who wanted a maximum 5.000 kilometers per year by car, are in favor of a speed limit of 130 km/h. 39 percent of young drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 also do not want a speed limit on freeways.
When will the speed limit of 130 be introduced on german highways??
The Greens and the SPD are calling for a speed limit on german highways as part of the campaign for the 2021 federal election. Chancellor candidate armin laschet of the CDU rejects the speed limit in view of increasing electromobility. According to him, a speed limit is "illogical". According to laschet, the environment would not be helped if e-cars drove at less than 130 km/h on the roads.
Job search for engineers
While politicians are still debating, the German auto industry is preparing for a change in the law after the 2021 general election.
Why there is no speed limit in germany?
If you drive towards the north sea through our neighboring country, the netherlands, you will know that a maximum of 100 km/h is allowed on highways. Öaustria has already introduced the 130 speed limit. German highways are considered the last bastion in europe. Here drivers can press the gas. First and foremost, this has to do with the strong car lobby. The ADAC and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) have so far spoken out against speed limits. They represent the interests of german automakers. The model ranges include numerous high-horsepower vehicles that would not be able to exploit their potential if a speed limit were imposed.
Is the ADAC in favor of speed limits??
The ADAC automobile club regularly surveys its members about the speed limit in germany. According to surveys, 45 percent of members are against a general speed limit on highways, 50 percent are in favor of it. So the opinions of the riders are relatively balanced. ADAC does not have a clear majority for or against the speed limit. According to the ADAC, German highways are the safest in the world. Twelve percent of all traffic fatalities occur on highways, even though they account for one-third of all traffic in Germany. most people (60 percent) would leave their lives on the highway.
The ADAC has revised its longstanding negative stance on the speed limit. The club "is no longer a matter of principle against a limit on german roads. A "yes" to the speed limit, however, it is also not.
For experts, the speed limit on highways is just one piece of the puzzle in the mobility revolution.
How many people die on german highways?
In terms of the fatality rate on freeways, germany is in first place compared with european countries.000 kilometers in the midfield. This is the result of a graph from the survey portal statista based on data from the european road safety observatory (ERSO). Bulgaria tops the list in europe with 83 fatalities. The irenians are the safest drivers: with six victims a year, they have the fewest fatal accidents. not only speeds were included in the survey, but also the condition of the roads, traffic density or consumption of alcohol. Statista concludes that for every 1 billion kilometers driven on stretches of highway with a speed limit, 0.95 accidents result in fatalities.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 2,000 people will be employed in 2020.724 people killed in road traffic accidents in germany. This corresponds to the lowest value since the number of victims was recorded.
What does the Federal Minister of Transport andreas scheuer (CSU) say??
Andreas scheuer thinks nothing of the new debate about the 130 speed limit. The federal minister of transport states: "we have far more outstanding tasks than to put this highly emotional topic again and again in the shop window-" for which there are no majorities at all.“ Moreover, there is a functioning system for setting the speed limit. Instead, scheuer calls for better traffic guidance through digital systems.
Speed limit on highways: what’s in the parties’ platforms for the 2021 parliamentary elections??
Three of the candidates for the Bundestag reject a speed limit on freeways. The CDU and CSU have the following to say about this debate: "We reject a diesel driving ban just as we reject a general speed limit on highways. Instead, we rely on innovative, modern traffic control systems.“ For the FDP, a speed limit is "neither progressive nor sustainable". Instead, the FDP’s election program focuses on "innovations and a better infrastructure". The AFD also rejects a general speed limit on German highways.
The left, on the other hand, is pro speed limit. Left. A general speed limit of 120 km/h is to apply on the freeways. The party also wants to push for other speed limits: "To protect people and the climate, we finally need speed limits, too, it says in the election program. If it were up to the left, the maximum speed would be 120 km/h on highways, 80 km/h on country roads, and the speed limit would be 30 km/h in built-up areas.
It is an open secret that the green party and its candidate for chancellor, annalena baerbock, are in favor of a speed limit on freeways. The party is aiming for a speed limit of 130 km/h on highways. „Our goal is vision zero, d. H. No more deaths and serious injuries in road traffic.“
The SPD is very clear in its election program for the 2021 federal elections: "We will introduce a speed limit of 130 km/h on federal highways. This protects the environment and significantly reduces the number of accidents.“
What does speed limit 130 on highways achieve??
Mainly CO2 savings. The faster cars are traveling, the higher the fuel consumption will be. CO2 is released into the air. In 2020, the federal environment Agency calculated that a limit on german highways would reduce emissions by of greenhouse gases significantly. Between almost two and more than five million tons of CO2 could be saved per year, depending on the design of the speed limit. According to the calculations, a speed limit of 130 would reduce CO2 emissions by 1.9 million metric tons per year. With a speed limit of 120 km/h, the figure would be 2.6 million metric tons. A restriction of 100 km/h would result in annual greenhouse gas reductions of 5.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. The calculations of the German Federal Environment Agency are based on consumption data for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. This includes data on average speeds and speed distributions on federal highways for so-called light traffic. In addition, detailed data from the Federal Highway Research Institute on speeds on freeways were analyzed.
Further information on the survey can be found at the federal environment Agency.De.
In 2018, passenger cars and light commercial vehicles on German highways emitted around 39.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2equivalents). The entire transport sector caused 163 million metric tons of emissions.
What effect would a speed limit have on air quality??
The end of the combustion engine as of 2035. This is what the EU Commission decided in its climate package. numerous car manufacturers are already converting their production to purely electric models. Pollutants are generated to a large extent by diesel engines. Many german cities already have diesel driving bans in place. The no-driving zone in essen also extends to the A40 arterial road.
The amount of nitrogen oxides (nox) in exhaust gas is primarily a question of temperature also the power that the engine has to deliver. Pollutants from a diesel engine rise sharply at speeds above 100 kilometers per hour. The handbook of emission factors for road traffic makes it possible to calculate greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. According to the manual, emissions can be reduced by between the optimum at around 80 kilometers per hour on country roads and the highway speed of 140 double.
In the early 2010s, this study was the stated goal of the federal environment agency’s research project parest. With a speed limit of 120 kilometers per hour on highways, the analysts arrived at a possible nox reduction of 5 percent through modeling.428 tons. This corresponds to a good one percent of total traffic emissions. Since nitrogen oxides are primarily a local challenge, this is only relevant on urban highways. But there are speed limits there.
What percentage of german autobahns are without a speed limit??
Germany is known for its unrestricted highways across all national borders, but only half of all highway routes are really without speed limits. One-third of all German highway kilometers are already speed-limited. Construction sites must also be included. This means that there is no speed limit on 57 percent of all german freeways.
Between ulm and augsburg a so-called traffic control system was installed in july. Depending on the traffic situation, speed limits or other regulations are displayed to drivers. The reason: the police have recorded twice as many accidents with fatalities or serious injuries on this stretch of freeway over ten years.
How much am I allowed to drive on the highway??
There is still no general speed limit on german highways, but there are speed limits of 130 km/h. These apply to car and motorcycle drivers. There is also a speed limit for trucks and cars with trailers.
What are the speed limits in germany??
The following table is based on ADAC data.
| Speed limit |
car |
with trailer |
motorcycle |
camper light |
camper heavy |
| in the city |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
| out of town |
100 |
80 |
100 |
100 |
80 |
| highways |
130 |
80 |
130 |
130 |
100 |
Motor homes between 3.5 and 7.5 tons are considered "heavy". Light motorhomes weigh up to 3.5 tons. The ADAC refers to the recommended speed limit of 130 km/h on freeways for motorcycles and cars.
What the german automakers say?
Car manufacturers such as BMW, VW and Daimler are preparing for speed limits of 130 km/h. you assume that the speed limit 130 will be decided after the federal election. VW boss herbert diess made it clear to the Handelsblatt that he saw no danger for volkswagen’s business. „We sell our cars all over the world, even in countries with speed limits. In this respect, no special preparation is required", he explained. „What we are preparing for, of course, is the e-mobility revolution and autonomous driving.“ with an electric car, you would automatically drive slower, because electric cars lose range more quickly at higher speeds. „That’s another reason why I ask myself whether we need a speed limit at all", the VW Group CEO continues.
The industry association VDA still prefers "situation-based speed limits", however, the green party is expected to be part of the next federal government. an implementation of the speed limit 130 should be one of the first measures of a green transport minister.
