Will the Ukraine war lead to at least a temporary speed limit in Germany? Transport Minister Volker Wissing continues to block: There are too few traffic signs for that, he says.
A speed limit on autobahns is discussed time and again in Germany, but there has been no real progress. As a result of the Ukraine war, the debate has flared up again: A speed limit could reduce petrol and diesel consumption and reduce dependence on Russian energy imports. The result would be additional pressure on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
However, Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has again clearly rejected such demands. The FDP politician refuses to introduce a speed limit, even temporarily. He thinks “nothing of it,” said Wissing of the “Hamburger Morgenpost” in an interview. As a reason, Wissing cited a lack of signs in Germany: “You would have to put up appropriate signs if you do it for three months and then take them down again. We don’t even have that many signs in stock.”
Traffic light coalition argues about speed limit
Most recently, Greens leader Ricarda Lang had proposed a temporary speed limit. “No measure will immediately end our dependence on oil,” she told the newspapers of the editorial network Germany. “But now every liter of oil counts and every possibility of how we can reduce consumption. And because there are hardly any other measures that work quickly, we now need a temporary speed limit on motorways – for example for nine months and thus until the end of the year, i.e. the time when we want to become independent of Russian oil at the latest.” The coalition partner SPD also approved this initiative.
However, the FDP maintains its negative attitude. The subject of the speed limit is “very divisive and has a lot of emotions on both sides,” said Wissing. The parliamentary state secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Daniela Kluckert (FDP), rejected the request. “We did not explicitly agree on a speed limit on motorways in the coalition agreement, and this decision stands,” she told the “Handelsblatt”.
Instead of a speed limit in Germany: Volker Wissing wants to strengthen public transport
Transport Minister Wissing pleaded in the “Hamburger Morgenpost” instead of a speed limit for strengthening public transport. To this end, the traffic light coalition has agreed on a relief package in which, among other things, reduced prices for buses and trains are recorded: Citizens should be able to use local transport for three months for nine euros a month. However, it is still unclear when the “9 for 90” ticket will actually be available. According to Wissing, it should be introduced by June 1 at the latest.
Swell:/// DPA
Source: Stern
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