a nationwide speed limit..
Dorothee Saar, a traffic expert at the DUH, told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition) that a day without cars can give people a rare chance to walk, cycle or even roller‑blade through the city, and that on Sundays people will notice how much traffic dominates everyday life through noise and dirty air. “These Sundays highlight how much road traffic shapes our everyday, even in quiet places” she said.
However, Saar stresses that banning cars on Sundays remains mostly symbolic. “What truly works is a speed limit”.
According to the DUH, setting a speed cap of 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h outside built‑up areas could save up to 4.7 billion litres of petrol and diesel each year. The proposal is intended to be a short‑term, almost cost‑free solution that avoids lengthy debates over exceptions and does not require a detailed pre‑discussion about who may drive on Sundays.