“Proposals on the speed limit on the autobahn upsets”

“Shouldn’t Germany to impose speed limits on the highway to reduce emissions? One too many innocent thought has attracted the outcry of the critics.”

“Free speed on the autobahn is for the German motorists as obvious as the right to bear arms for many republicans in the united states.”

“Almost everywhere in the world, there are rules for how quickly a car travels on the highway. But not in Germany. This car is not only a big export orders, but also a part of the national identity and the right to choose the speed on large parts of the autobahn are nearly holy.”

“– the Autobahn is almost mythical. It is a symbol of success and modernization, which also strongly associated with freedom. Then, there is a practical aspect also, many bilpendlar in Germany, ” says Thomas Sommerer, associate professor of political science at Stockholm university, to TT.”

“The last few weeks the highway straight into the heart of an old-school debate. Germany needs to switch up the work to reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector, but is torn between attempts to meet EU emissions targets and the desire to protect the automotive industry. And a draft from a group of experts, appointed by the government to tackle the problem, has sparked the outcry of motorists, lobby groups, industry and politicians keen on their support.”

“Among the proposals that the higher fuel tax and abolished tax breaks for diesel cars, there namely a piece of political dynamite: the idea of limiting the speed on the autobahn is 130 kilometres per hour. Taken together, the measures according to the committee to be able to stand for half of the emissions reduction needed, according to the Reuters news agency which has taken part of the document.”

“– It is very sensitive. The German automotive industry has been in crisis mode after dieselskandalen and körförbuden for diesel cars in cities. It may partly explain the very active resistance against the speed limit, which is an important symbolfråga for the automotive industry, influential advocacy organizations, ” says Sommerer.”

“– in Addition, the use parties (right-wing populist and xenophobic) AFD issue as an argument for how the elite are trying to restrict the citizens ‘ freedom of action.”

“In the opposite direction, however, is moving organizations and activists that highlight the environmental as well as safety aspects and the possible effects of a speed limit. Cem Özdemir, mep from the Swedish green party, The call, for example, the proposal is a sensible action. And in a poll from Emnidinstitutet shows that 52 per cent of the respondents can imagine the speed limits of between 120 and 140 kilometers an hour on the autobahn. 46 percent are against.”

“– another explanation to the question raised now is the green party’s success in Germany and the broader climate change debate. I’m not surprised that there is a great support for speed limits, but the other side is very well organized and loud, ” says Sommerer.”

” I do not believe that the proposal will become a reality.”

“Germany is not only world famous for its cars, but also for its highways: the autobahn.”

“Germany is the only country in Europe without speed limits on their highways. However, there are some exceptions, such as in and around the German cities and at road works. The exceptions comprise about 30% of the autobahn total distance. There is also a recommendation to run max 130 km / h everywhere on the highway, but it is voluntary.”

“the Number of fatalities on the parts of the highway that has speed limits are 26 per cent lower than on the routes that are devoid of speed limits.”

“by 2017, the dog 409 people on the autobahn, and about half of the accidents were due to vehicles traveling at an inappropriate speed, according to the German statistical office.”

“Sources: The New York Times, Bloomberg”