Speed ​​limit dispute of the GroKo: SPD supports the request of the Road Safety Council

The Road Safety Council demands a speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour on motorways. The SPD supports the demand.

• The SPD demands a speed limit on German motorways.
• Several SPD politicians accuse Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) of a blockade policy.
• The federal government has now made a clear announcement.

SPD supports the traffic safety council's demand for a speed limit

Update from May 12, 2020:  The SPD has backed the request of the German Road Safety Council (DVR) for a general speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour on all motorways. SPD leader Saskia Esken asked the coalition partner Union in the "Rheinische Post" (Wednesday edition) to agree to such a regulation in the coalition.

"Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and the CDU and CSU should join the arguments of experts as well as the majority of German citizens and finally clear the way for a speed limit so that all road users can move on our roads in a safer, more stress-free and environmentally friendly manner," said Esken.

The Road Safety Council claims that the number of traffic victims will decrease due to a speed limit. "The strategy of the DVR is Vision Zero - so it is our job to do everything we can to prevent traffic accidents with fatalities and injuries," said President Walter Eichendorf. "This also includes the general speed limit on federal highways."

The requirement is therefore part of a comprehensive document for more safety on federal highways. The association said that speed plays a special role in accidents . In addition, a lower speed with the same reaction time leads to a shorter stopping distance and to accidents with less dramatic consequences.

The Federal Council is also now dealing with the speed limit

Update of February 7, 2020: The demand for a speed limit on highways should now become an issue in the Federal Council , as reported by the German Press Agency (dpa). The Environment Committee of the State Chamber had made a recommendation for the meeting next Friday (February 14) that a "speed limit" of 130 kilometers per hour should be introduced. 

If the Federal Council approves a regulation with certain changes, the Federal Government must implement it in exactly this form. However, it can also be withdrawn by the federal government. 

"A general speed limit on German motorways is suitable for contributing to the harmonization of Europe-wide traffic conditions, reducing fuel consumption and climate-damaging emissions and increasing traffic safety," argues the Federal Council's Transport Committee . 

The FDP traffic politician Oliver Luksic warned against it, a speed limit should not be introduced "through the back door". After the clear failure in the Bundestag, a decision of 130 km / h in the Bundesrat would be more than questionable, the  dpa wrote .

GroKo speed limit dispute: Angela Merkel with power word - politician hostile for tweet

Update of January 1, 2020 : The speed limit debate is as old as the motorways themselves. "Germany is the only industrial nation in the world without a constant speed limit on motorways", the Schwäbische Zeitung reminded two years ago - and the SPD leader claims this Saskia Esken now. She tweeted a graphic showing a statistical Zusammenhan g between speed limit and less fatalities shows, and wrote: "Are highways with speed limits actually safer than without? There is always a lot of debate about this, but far too often ignores the facts . ”

Are motorways with speed limits actually safer than without? There is always a lot of debate about this, but far too often ignores the facts. Here is a somewhat older fact-based classification of the @Schwaebische https://t.co/pL7N2qfgzF pic.twitter.com/jV20Nujnet

2016 are according to the article on German highways with a speed limit per km of motorway 26 percent fewer people died in an accident than on highways with no speed limit. The evaluation comes from the German Road Safety Council (DVR).

Nevertheless, Esken is addressed in the comments: “Nice graphics ('own calculation') taken out of context. I am impressed by how incredibly stupid you think we are, " @hausinger_ihk writes  , and @A questioner asks:" There are few traffic fatalities in Europe in the FRG. Wouldn't it be better if all countries followed our example and released the speed limit? "

Speed ​​limit debate: "Physics probably applies in the rest of the world, only not in Germany"

Update from December 30, 4:21 p.m .: The speed limit on highways is an emotional issue - this can be seen  very clearly on Twitter , among other things . The debate is hot there. A tweet from Volker Quaschning is currently getting a lot of attention . He is a professor of regenerative energy systems at the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, and writes about the planned  speed limit practical test (see below): “Crazy: You want to find out with tests whether a #tempo limit provides more security. Physics says: higher speed = longer braking distance = more damage on impact. Physics probably applies in the rest of the world, just not in Germany. "

Crazy: One tries to find out whether a #tempo limit provides more security.
Physics says: higher speed = longer braking distance = more damage on impact.
Physics probably applies in the rest of the world, only not in Germany. https://t.co/0vQpaRnBuo

Since Monday morning the tweet has received almost 2000 likes  and a lot of approval. "Yeah, hah, physics is just one religion among many. Modern German cars have ESP and other safety devices, because physics has nothing more to report, ”answered one user. Another commented: “Our politicians still believe that physics can be negotiated and regulated by law! An increase in the melting point of water to 2 degrees would be helpful in terms of climate policy, the law is in preparation ... "

Speed ​​limit on highways: Federal government plans no change

Update from December 30th, 13:53 : In the  dispute over a general speed limit , an announcement came from above - namely from Angela Merkel's Federal Chancellery! The  Chancellor rejected  a speed limit despite the ongoing  GroKo dispute . "The federal government does not plan a general speed limit on German motorways," said deputy government  spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer . That was  not provided for in the  coalition agreement between the  Union and the  SPD . In addition, there is "no new status". 

The Ministry of Transport and the Environment have been on the issue for months: Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer (CSU) rejects a general top speed of around 130 kilometers per hour . Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) is in favor of this and justifies this with traffic safety and climate protection . The SPD had named the speed limit at its party conference as one of the topics for additional projects that it wanted to talk to the Union about.

Speed ​​limit: Insurers want to check the time solution on motorways

Update from December 30, 10:32 am: Now facts about the  speed limit are required: The insurance industry  has proposed a large-scale practical test . This should clarify whether a general speed limit on motorways "really leads to a significant increase in safety and, if so, how much," said the head of accident research at the general association of the German insurance industry, Siegfried Brockmann , the editorial network Germany .

So far, the effects of a speed limit in Germany have not been scientifically investigated, the expert complained. In the political debate, everyone looks for the finding that corresponds to their own opinion. Brockmann said that highways are principally intended for faster driving. Perhaps this would still be possible at times of day with little traffic . One option is to limit the speed limit to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Speed ​​limit dispute: Leftists speak of "ridiculous spectacle" and present a plan

Update of December 28, 8:34 a.m .: Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze is on a confrontation course in the dispute over a  speed limit on German motorways. A first answer came from the CSU transport politician Ulrich Lange : "The new SPD chairmen are obviously completely irrelevant," said the deputy parliamentary group leader of the Union faction in the Bundestag of the dpa. "Whoever believes that a general speed limit is the most urgent measure to stop the emigration of SPD voters has obviously lost the political compass." Germany has "one of the safest highways in the world".

Scheuer had pointed out that the Bundestag had only recently rejected the general speed limit . In fact, only in October had the Greens' push for 130 km / h failed in parliament. Most SPD MPs also voted against, but this is common in coalitions for opposition proposals. Back then, SPD politicians had made it clear that the topic should be back on the agenda in the new year.

The leftists in the Bundestag now want to give them the opportunity to do so. Her parliamentary manager Jan Korte told the dpa: "The now ridiculous spectacle of a speed limit should be ended." He therefore proposed to the SPD an intergroup application with all political groups who supported a speed limit of 130. “It could be worked out in the first week of the session in January and then debated the week in plenary. That would be credible. ”Seriously discussing this with Scheuer was“ basically senseless ”.

However, the SPD, the Left and the Greens together would not have a majority.

Minister goes to Scheuer at speed limit on a confrontation course

Update of December 28, 7:35 a.m .:  The police union (GdP) suggests an independent report. "The federal government should commission a scientific report to get valid figures on the benefits of a speed limit," said its vice-chairman, Michael Mertens, the "Handelsblatt" (Saturday edition). "With such a foundation, one can certainly bring the currently very emotionally charged discussion to an objective level."

The GdP advocates a speed limit primarily for reasons of traffic safety. Reducing the top speed to 130 km / h reduces "the risk of serious accidents with the most seriously injured," says Mertens. Estimates estimated that around 80 deaths a year nationwide could be avoided, he added.

Consumer advocates also support a speed limit. "Drivers would quickly get used to what works in all neighboring countries in Europe," explained Marion Jungbluth, head of the Mobility and Travel team at the Federal Consumer Association (VZBV), the "Handelsblatt". The advantages are "significant" because "in addition to the climate impact, it can lead to more safety and less stress on highways." As an alternative to the speed limit, Marion Jungbluth sees a "consumer-friendly offer with buses and trains."

Speed ​​limit on the highway: Minister goes to Scheuer on a confrontation course

Update of December 28, 2019, 7:05 a.m .:   In the dispute over a general speed limit on German motorways, Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze is on a confrontation course with Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer. "I am for a speed limit on German motorways," said the SPD politician to the German press agency. It reduces fatal accidents and saves one to two million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually. "In this respect, common sense speaks for the introduction of a general speed limit that has long been available in almost all EU countries," said Schulze.

The SPD has named a general speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour as one of the topics for additional projects that it plans to talk to the Union about in the future. Transport Minister Scheuer rejects this. "We have far more outstanding tasks than putting this highly emotional issue over and over again in the shop window - for which there are no majorities at all," said the dpa CSU politician.

Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer.

© dpa / Paul Zinken

Speed ​​limit debate: GroKo politician calls for approval stop for "gas guzzlers"

Update from December 27, 2019, 10:21 p.m .: The debate about a general speed limit on German motorways is ongoing . Resistance comes from the VDA car association . It does not help the environment, safety or the driver to reactivate this symbolic debate again and again, said the president of the Association of the Automotive Industry, Bernhard Mattes. A significant part of the motorways already include speed limits . Rigid guidelines would not really be accepted by the citizens. The Greens, the SPD and the Left advocate a speed limit.

Speed ​​limit debate: GroKo politician calls for approval stop for "gas guzzlers"

Update from 16:21: A  speed limit alone is not enough for him. The SPD faction deputy Matthias Miersch also called for a registration stop for cars with high consumption . "I do not think that the world will go under if we do not have new gas guzzlers, such as large American pick-up trucks with petrol engines, approved in Germany and Europe," said Miersch to the editorial network in Germany . 

Society had to think very carefully about "which vehicles we want in our road traffic". "We will not be able to avoid regulatory interference." The environmental politician made it clear that, in his view, this also applies to electric vehicles with very high power consumption.

Speed ​​limit debate: Özdemir makes violent allegations against SPD

Update from 4:01 p.m .:  Should there be a speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour on highways? The SPD says: yes. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) says: no. "A speed limit on our motorways would reduce total CO2 emissions in Germany by less than 0.5 percent", is one of his arguments against a speed limit expansion.

He is now receiving support from FDP leader Christian Lindner . "The contribution of a general speed limit to global CO2 savings would also be marginal," said Lindner of the dpa . “Instead of a speed limit, we need a CO2 limit for Germany . That would mean that hydrogen or other climate-friendly fuels can replace gasoline and diesel in the future. ”

Speed ​​limit on highways: survey with clear results

Update 3:09 p.m .: In the speed limit debate, more and more politicians and associations are cheerfully speaking - and of course the polling institutes too . Civey has now found broad support for a general top speed on highways, as Spiegel reports.

A good two thirds of the respondents were in favor of a binding speed limit - however, the answer to the question of where the speed limit should be was disagreed. According to this, 40 percent of the respondents were in favor of a speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour .

11.7 percent of the participants were for a speed limit of more than 130 kilometers per hour. 11.2 percent spoke in favor of a maximum of 120 kilometers per hour on the highway. According to the survey, very few want a lower speed limit: 2.5 percent voted for Tempo 110 and 1.7 percent for even less. 

Only 31.1 percent of the participants generally spoke out against a speed limit. For the survey, Civey interviewed more than 3,000 people over a period of four weeks , said Spiegel .

Speed ​​limit debate: Scheuer embarrasses himself on Twitter

Update of December 27: In the speed limit debate , the SPD must now take criticism from the Greens : Cem Özdemir , the chairman of the Transport Committee of the Bundestag, has accused the party of symbolic politics . "The SPD would have had the opportunity to approve our proposal in the Bundestag," said Özdemir of the Rheinische Post . "Now to raise the subject, knowing that the Union will not participate, is purely symbolic." 

On the matter, however, the SPD was right in its demand for a general speed limit. "Introducing a maximum speed on motorways in Germany would only have advantages: fewer fatalities, immediate climate protection and practically no costs."

CSU minister argues with climate protection - and draws a rail comparison

Update December 26, 2019 16:38:  In the CSU is forming in federal and state resistance to a general speed limit . "The current rules for speed limits on German roads have proven themselves very well in an overall view of all matters," said Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) to Munich's Merkur (Friday edition). 

“Overall, the proportion of kilometers driven without a speed limit only makes up a small proportion of the entire German road network. The effect of a speed limit on climate protection is therefore excessively exaggerated. "He criticized:" With the same logic, one could question the high speed of ICE trains, because they would also consume less energy at a speed of 130 km / h. "

Speed ​​limit debate: Ministry of Transport with embarrassing Twitter mishap

First report: Berlin - Numerous SPD politicians have accused Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) of blocking policy in the debate about a speed limit on motorways . "A speed limit on our motorways is good for climate protection, serves safety and is easy on the nerves of drivers," said the new SPD chairwoman Saskia Esken . Scheuer had previously rejected a discussion about the SPD, Greens and Left Party's demand for a speed limit.

Esken: Scheuer cannot go it alone to settle the coalition's affairs

According to Esken, Scheuer was "not in a position to handle coalition affairs on his own." She announced that her party would press for talks in the new year about the speed limit of 130 km / h on motorways, which was also demanded by the SPD party conference . "Outside Germany, a speed limit is the norm, and the majority of citizens in this country have long been convinced of it," she said.

"All of Europe and almost all civilized states have a speed limit," said former SPD vice chief, Ralf Stegner , the "Handelsblatt". He emphasized that a general speed limit on motorways is a "small but very easy contribution to climate protection ". In addition, this could significantly increase traffic safety and improve traffic flow. Even the right-wing government in the Netherlands recently introduced a speed limit. However, Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke of a "shitty measure".

Ministry of Transport with embarrassing Twitter glitch

The Federal Ministry of Transport, headed by Scheuer , wrote on Twitter that it makes more sense to control traffic "intelligently, digitally and flexibly - without bans". This should "flow as best as possible" in Germany. In addition to the tweet, they posted a picture of a nocturnal highway with good traffic flow. Many users, including the Greens parliamentary group leader Oliver Krischer , indicated that the picture was taken in Switzerland. There is a general speed limit of 120 km / h. One user commented on the breakdown as follows: "CSU-typical competence for digitization and the media used."

@BMVI and then why are you showing a picture from Switzerland where there is a speed limit?

The Greens had requested a speed limit of 130 km / h on German motorways in the Bundestag in October. However, they were only supported by the Left Party . The SPD, CDU, CSU, FDP and AfD voted against at the time, the SPD, however, with explicit reference to the coalition discipline. There is also trouble for rail customers - with the group, by the way, not every ticket has become cheaper to change the timetable, as Merkur.de * reports. Even if this impression could have arisen.

AFP / dpa / frs

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Jens Büttner