Autobahns have been regularly questioned for several years, particularly regarding the environmental impact and benefits of speed limits on these sections. If the research on the subject is sometimes questionable, it is growing, and a study recently published in the journal Ecological Economy now looks at the savings that can be made from speed limits.
According to the study, only 30% of Germany’s motorways currently benefit from no speed limits, either permanently or temporarily, while 96% of the country’s roads are subject to speed limits.
Ecology versus economy?
Introducing a general speed limit of 130 km/h on German motorways could have significant benefits and save money, study shows the equivalent of 293 million euros of carbon dioxide emissions.
In addition, it will lead to an increase in “well-being” of 951 million euros, taking into account various factors such as the cost of travel time, fuel consumption, number of accidents, CO2 emissions.2, and the level of air pollution. In short, elements that are difficult to quantify.
Based on 2020 as a database, the study estimates that a limit of 130 km/h would avoid emissions 1.5 million tons of CO2 in the air.
Autobahn restrictions? Not for tomorrow
However, the debate over speed limits in Germany remains polarized. Supporters of the restrictions, a majority according to polls, face opposition from German parties such as the CDU and VDP, which favor keeping them.
At the same time, there are many voices that emphasize that the transport sector should make more efforts to be environmentally friendly, a view shared by Dirk Messner, president of the Federal Environment Agency.
However, the government and Transport Minister Volker Wiesing reject the idea of a speed limit, saying that the responsibility for speed should lie with citizens, and that the state should remain in the background in this matter.
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Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.