Michael Mertens was even 17 years patrol officer and had to see “more victims as well.” The GdP-Vice is contrary to the Minister of transport barn.
Interview with Markus Balser Markus Balser
Markus Balser came in 2001 to the süddeutsche Zeitung. He is a graduate of the Cologne school of journalism and a diploma in Economics and was first in the economy editorial office in Munich. In 2013, he went to Berlin and reported from there on energy and environmental issues. At the beginning of 2016, he joined the parliamentary team and takes care of to transport and agricultural policies, as well as to the Deutsche Bahn. In 2007, Balser was Nannen, together with Klaus Ott and Hans Leyendecker for the research to the Siemens bribe scandal with the Henri award. In 2008, he was a scholarship holder of the Arthur F. Burns fellowship, a guest editor of the Wall Street Journal in New York.
on Twitter, send an E-Mail
The trade Union of police (GdP) in favour of the introduction of a General speed limit on German motorways. “We could save lives and serious injuries,” says the Deputy Federal Chairman of the GdP, and Michael Mertens. Thus, it contradicts the Federal Minister of transport, Andreas Scheuer (CSU), had said, be mind, appropriate proposals for a government Commission “against every man”.
SZ: Brings a General speed limit on Germany’s motorways from the point of view of the police really provide more security?
Michael Mertens: Yes, I am convinced of that. We are the only country in Europe which has no General speed limit on the car. There is a very in-depth comparison with Austria. Our neighbors have a very similar infrastructure, as we and a speed limit. Austrian studies suggest that we could avoid in Germany at least one in every four road deaths, if we were to introduce a similar speed limit.
you are less accidents?
I think the prognosis is very credible. A tempo reduction to 130 kilometres an hour would prevent, according to the police in serious traffic accidents. We could save lives and serious injuries prevented. But that’s not the Only one.
What ?
Even the traffic jams could be prevented. A steady pace is the best way of roads to optimally make use of to prevent downtime.
Federal Minister of transport, Scheuer speaks at the experts ‘ proposals of measures “against all sense”. You contradict?
It is from the point of view of the police completely clear: accidents on the highway, and their consequences have much to do with speed and physical forces. In this country, some people driving completely legal 200 or 250 km/h. to say it clear: This is madness. At this rate, in stressful situations no one can have his car in the handle. A sudden traffic jam, for example, you can’t Dodge then. Any police officer can tell you how it turns out. To the Problem also a little but different.
what do you think?
To the large differences in Tempo. It makes every lane change is dangerous. Even though our cars are becoming safer, the number of dead – on the contrary. The exact Figures for the whole of the past year are not yet available. But if we write the first nine months, we have to assume, unfortunately, that the number of fatalities has increased in the past year on significantly more than 3000. Only Changes to a Parameter can reduce this number really is: A lower Tempo. There is no logical reason, no speed limit.
Michael Mertens, Vice head of the police Union (GdP), does not wish that the policy stifles the debate over the speed limit immediately: “We need to be as a society what we want.”
(photo: Roland Weihrauch/dpa)
they were 17 years as a patrol officer, you speak from your own experience?
I had to see more victims as well. Many of them are a result of too high a speed. If you experienced the suffering of the victims and the bereaved, then, you just hope that we do more to prevent the death on the road. By more controls.
What is the maximum speed would be from the point of view of the police is the Right thing to do?
no Matter whether the speed limit is 120, 130 or 140 km/h: Sure, every Limit would be less accidents. Which is the best pace, can’t tell the police. The Federal government needs to finally provide a scientific study in order to deal with a speed limit. It is hard to believe: there is no Such thing yet. This would take the objectifying the discussion and emotions.
What should policy do now?
one thing: do not stifle The debate immediately. The topic is extremely important. We need to be as a society what we want. The permission to drive as fast as you want is a freedom, if this freedom does not endanger the you? I think that in the end reason triumphs.
