Channel One (ARD, public TV) talked to a sensitive subject in Germany....speed limits.
The hype? Several environmental groups and transport associations stood up....with the NRW state Police Union supporting their agenda.....saying that new speed limits need to exist.
The agenda?
For a long while, it's been only the idea of the autobahn speed limit being established at 130 kph (80 mph).
Generally, through urban areas of Germany, you now find the standard set at 100 kph. I'd suggest around 60-percent of the autobahn roads are unlimited. Most folks, if you ask them to be honest....will admit they drive somewhere between 100 and 130 kph already. My own estimate is that around 10-percent of Germans will drive above 130 kph on regular basis.
But this agenda apparently does not end there. What this group also wants....is a city speed limit of 30 kph (down from the 50 kph currently) and a state road limit of 80 kph (down from 100 kph).
80 kph (49 mph)? On regular state roads? That's the push of the agenda.
I would imagine that if you approached most Germans....more than 80-percent won't buy into that idea.
What's the payback? Saving gas (course gas/diesel car sales are ending in less than 9 years....so why bother)? The cops bought into the agenda because they say....less speed....less accidents.
Where this is heading? I suspect that the CDU-CSU apparatus after the election.....has coalition-building troubles, and they will agree to one change...allowing the states to manage the speed limits themselves. Some states will buy into the 130 kph, and some won't. Some states would buy into the 80 kph limit on state roads, and some won't.
A big deal? Well....they aren't going to allow the general public to vote on this. So it'll be a fair amount of grumbling going on.
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