For four months during the 1970s oil crisis, a country synonymous with powerful engines and driving freedoms did the unthinkable: West Germany (as it was then) imposed a 100 kilometers per hour speed limit on the Autobahn to conserve fuel.
With the Strait of Hormuz oil route still effectively closed by the Iran war, and prices at the pump soaring, should it do so again? Environmental groups and leftist politicians think it is time Germany abandoned its attachment to fast driving. The International Energy Agency agrees.
Germany is not at immediate risk of running out of petrol or diesel, but its laissez-faire approach toward speeding feels outdated. It is the only major economy that lets people drive as fast as they like on the highway. Slowing down would save lives and lower fuel consumption, thereby reducing pollution and the country’s dependence on imported hydrocarbons.
Illustration: Tania Chou
Most members of Germany’s ADAC motorist association favor a permanent speed limit. The general population would also back a temporary restriction until the oil price shock is resolved.
However, the topic is politically charged. Instead of asking drivers to do their bit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition of conservatives and social democrats this week opted to cut taxes on petrol and diesel for two months to curb the cost of filling up. While helping consumers is understandable, this would dilute a big incentive to slow down and conserve fuel. A temporary Autobahn speed limit is “not on the agenda,” economy minister Katherina Reiche said on Thursday.
Berlin has reason to be wary. Europe’s biggest economy is embarking on a crucial year of reforms to revive growth, overhaul the welfare system and renew its armed forces. This would inevitably be unpopular and involve financial sacrifices. Scrapping the cherished birthright of petrolheads would add insult to injury. Politicians have been complaining about too much regulation and chastising Germans for not working hard enough, so stopping people from zooming around would be irksome for a vocal minority.
A speed limit would play into the hands of the far-right Alternative for Germany, too, which has become Germany’s most popular political party by stoking culture wars.
Like most Germans, I have let it rip on the motorway when traffic allows, but I enjoy it less since becoming a parent. It is hard to relax when doing 160kph or more in the fast lane. Spotting an even faster BMW or Mercedes in the rearview mirror, flashing LED headlamps telling you to move over, makes me tense. Nowadays, I stick to 140kph or so; brisk enough while keeping my family safe.
More than 280 people were killed in accidents on Germany’s highways in 2024. Excessive speed played a part in more than 40 percent of those incidents. Compared with other road types, the Autobahn is not especially dangerous. There are more fatalities on rural roads where speed limits already exist, but studies show there would be fewer deaths if we slowed down.
Obviously, we would also use less petrol. Above a certain speed — about 90kph depending on the car type — fuel economy drops, in part due to air resistance. A 100kph highway limit and 80kph on other main roads could cut an average household’s yearly vehicle-fuel bill by almost 10 percent, Greenpeace estimates.
I doubt Merz would budge on this matter, unless it looks like pumps are going to run dry. Fortunately, there is evidence some drivers are already taking their foot off the pedal, without waiting to be told.
Much like the dubious myth of Teutonic efficiency, Germans do not race on the highway as much as one might think. There are speed restrictions on about 30 percent of the network, and it is impossible to drive quickly on congested stretches near cities or where there are repairs. Many Autobahn bridges are in poor condition.
On three quarters of unrestricted highway sections motorists travel at an average speed of 130kph or less, according to analyses of data from navigation devices and fleet software. On only 1 percent of road sections is the average speed above 140kph. It is mainly on rural stretches of highway connecting major cities where long-distance drivers step on the gas. Only a minority appears hell-bent on emulating the legends of Formula 1 motor racing.
Somewhat surprisingly, average speeds on highways in North Rhine Westphalia — a heavily populated industrial region — have dropped to 113kph from 116.5kph in 2021, the German Economic Institute said. Roadworks and traffic increases contributed to that, but many drivers were observed travelling at exactly 130kph, the recommended (but not mandatory) limit.
A lot of drivers default to that speed, including when programming their car’s cruise control. While you can legally go much faster, that exposes you to legal liabilities if you are in an accident. As technology evolves, speeding could become even more unfashionable. Vehicles such as BMW’s iX3 let owners take their hands off the steering wheel, but these systems are only approved for highway speeds up to 130kph.
The popularity of electric vehicles could also encourage German drivers to tap the brakes. Battery-powered cars accelerate extremely rapidly, but their range plunges if you drive for a while at high speed. Even if Merz dodges the Autobahn limit, there are plenty of reasons for Germans to slow down a little.
Chris Bryant is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering industrial companies in Europe. Previously, he was a reporter for the Financial Times. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
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