As a coalition of labor unions, social organizations and environmental groups, the German Police Union (GdP), the Social Association VdK and 12 others have called for the introduction of a general speed limit on autobahns as a short-term measure of a new federal government. This would involve capping the maximum speed on highways at 80 kilometers per hour and making it easier for municipalities to introduce a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour in urban areas.
According to the German Environment Agency’s latest figures, a speed limit of 100/80/30 could save 11.7 million tons of CO2 per year, said Jürgen Resch, the federal chairman of the German Environmental Aid (DUH), citing the agency’s modeling of various speed restrictions. “This single measure could close a third of the climate gap in the transportation sector by 2030. If the new federal government does not take action, we will enforce the speed limit through our ongoing climate lawsuits.”
The German Police Union (GdP) supports general speed limits, but with exceptions for urban areas. “We are not just thinking of the safety of road users, but also of the working conditions of the police” said Michael Mertens, the deputy federal chairman of the union. Excessive speeds significantly increase the risks for police officers, whether it is in clearing hazards, securing accident sites, or controlling traffic.
The Pedestrian Association FUSS highlighted the dangers for children. Every day, 80 pedestrians are injured or killed on Germany’s roads, said the association’s chairman, Roland Stimpel. “High speeds primarily put the lives of the elderly and children at risk. Many accidents are prevented or become less severe when the speed is limited to 30 kilometers per hour.