German Environmentalists demand Autobahn speed limit

Muamer Hodzic December 29, 2006

Just as I finished writing the previous post about the awful E 55 crash, I found this over at CNN. It seems that I am not the only one urging (like someone is going to listen to me) drivers to be careful on the roads, but Environmentalists are demanding that speed limits of 120km/h or 75mph be put on German highways (better knows as Autobahns). They say that the speed limit reduction would cut carbon dioxide emissions by about 30%, but most importantly, environmental groups say, it would lower road deaths.

“I am committed to a reduction in emissions but a general speed limit on open stretches of road does not make sense,” minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said in a statement. People like Wolfgang argue that roads free of limits encourage manufacturers to develop safer cars, thus securing jobs.

They both have good arguments, but it seems we have to pick one side as it will not be possible to have both of two worlds. This quote from The Financial Times Deutschland sums up most peoples thought on this issue, “Derestricted driving on the autobahn is to the Germans what pesto is to the Italians and the baguette is to the French. No one in Italy or in France would dare to try and ban the cultural characteristics of their country.”