The gas dispute with Russia could come to a head, the federal government has called on consumers and companies to save energy. Is there a speed limit?
Germany wants to be less dependent on Russian energy supplies – so calls for a speed limit on motorways are getting louder.
The general manager of the German Association of Cities, Helmut Dedy, told the German Press Agency: “From now on we have to look even more closely at energy consumption. That’s why we advocate checking a speed limit now. This would allow us to immediately leverage savings potential.”
A Russian gas or oil supply stop is a realistic scenario, said Dedy. “We don’t want hysteria, but greater awareness among people and the economy that a large-scale crisis can occur.”
Jens Hilgenberg, head of transport policy at the environmental association BUND, told the dpa: “In order to reduce dependence on energy imports, immediate success in saving energy must be achieved. In the transport sector, short-term effective measures such as a general speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways, car-free Sundays and a ban on short-haul flights must be implemented immediately.”
During the coalition negotiations between the SPD, Greens and FDP, the introduction of a general speed limit on German autobahns failed due to resistance from the Liberals. A speed limit was also missing from a package of measures recently adopted by the coalition leaders to save energy.
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) announced the early warning level of a gas emergency plan on Wednesday, the first of three levels. This is intended to strengthen precautions for a possible Russian delivery stop. The appeal went to consumers and companies to save energy. The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized that security of supply is currently still guaranteed. From Habeck’s point of view, the payment of gas deliveries in rubles demanded by Russia is a breach of supply contracts.
Dedy said the cities supported the early warning level declared by Habeck. “We must take precautions at all levels and with all available means to prepare for a supply stop from Russia. That applies both strategically and practically.”
“Wirtschaftswise” Veronika Grimm said on Wednesday that it was important to send signals that indicated that there could be an explosive situation if Russian energy supplies were to be stopped. Such a signal could be the introduction of a general speed limit on motorways.
“People now have to consume less,” said Monika Schnitzer, like Grimm also a member of the Advisory Council for the Assessment of Overall Economic Development. They should carpool, drive more slowly and, if possible, use public transport, said the economist.
On the motorway in particular, consumption per kilometer depends heavily on the speed driven. According to the Federal Environment Agency, for example, a typical vehicle traveling at 90 kilometers per hour uses 23 percent less fuel than at a speed of 110 kilometers per hour.
Environmental groups have been calling for the introduction of a general speed limit for a long time. Three weeks ago, the environmental organization Greenpeace proposed short-term measures to reduce Germany’s oil consumption – and thus its dependence on Russian oil imports. This includes the introduction of a temporary speed limit of 100 km/h on motorways, 80 km/h on country roads and 30 km/h in cities for the duration of the conflict. This could improve traffic flow, reduce consumption-intensive speed changes and increase the efficiency of internal combustion engines.
Source: Stern
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