BERLIN: A majority of Germans have again come out in favour of a speed limit of 130kph on the country's largely limitless highways, according to the latest survey.
The chances that one will be imposed, however, are slim.
Germany is famous worldwide for allowing motorists to drive as fast as they want on many stretches of its autobahn highways, but the results of the INSA questionnaire published Tuesday showed 57% of those asked in favour of a blanket speed limit.
Another 36% were against the measure, according to the survey commissioned by the widely read Bild newspaper. A total of 1,000 people were asked.
The outcome mirrors the results of numerous previous surveys on the issue down the years and comes amid a renewed call for a speed limit on German highways by environment minister Steffi Lemke from the Green Party.
The Greens rule in Germany's parliament in a coalition with the social democrats and liberal FDP, the minority pro-mobility partner which has so far repeatedly rejected calls for a speed clampdown on German highways.
"A speed limit could make a significant contribution to climate protection," Lemke and added: "However, for well-known reasons, it is not part of the coalition agreement," said the environment minister, referring to the FDP's blocking attitude.
A general speed limit has been debated in Germany for decades and its proponents argue that it would increase road safety and improve climate protection.
After the 2021 state election, a speed limit seemed to be off the table for the next four years. The coalition agreement of the current government lays down: "There will be no general speed limit."
According to the latest figures from 2019, motorist can drive unrestricted on just over half of Germany's autobahns. At present 57.2% of the network carries no limit. Restrictions apply mainly near big cities or at complex road interchanges
That percentage increased earlier this year when Brandenburg state lifted the 130kph speed limit in force for years on a long stretch of the A24 motorway north-east of Berlin
Officials said the move was decided after a significant reduction in accident and casualty figures, although when no limit was previously in place the section saw the most traffic fatalities in all of Brandenburg.
Brandenburg police were critical of the roll-back, while accident researchers spoke of a legally correct decision, but not a good one.
Germany's huge ADAC motorists' association with 21 million members, had abandoned its decades-long negative stance against a speed limit. Indeed 52% of the club's members are in favour of a speed limit, with 44% against
Even former Formula 1 racing driver Sebastian Vettel was open to a general speed limit said Bild. If it would help to save lives, he could live with it, he told the paper. This is a "no-brainer," said the four-times world champion.
