Speed limit on autobahns could significantly cut traffic deaths, study finds

Implementing a speed limit on German autobahns could significantly reduce traffic fatalities, according to a new study. Researchers estimate that a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour could lead to a 25 to 30 percent decrease in deaths on federal highways, potentially saving between 70 and 90 lives each year.

Last year, over 2,800 people died in traffic accidents on German roads, with 292 of those fatalities occurring on autobahns. Unlike most other countries worldwide, Germany does not have a general speed limit on its autobahns. Studies from countries like Austria, the Netherlands, and the United States have indicated that imposing speed restrictions can lead to fewer severe accidents and fatalities.

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With a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour, there would be 25 to 30 percent fewer fatalities on federal autobahns.

Siegfried Brockmann, a traffic accident researcher at the Björn Steiger Foundation, which advocates for emergency services, suggested testing the effects of speed limits on autobahns for a year or introducing experimental routes with varying limits. However, such measures would require approval from the Federal Ministry of Transport, which has previously opposed such initiatives. The ADAC, a German automobile club, also supports investigating the "possibilities and limits of a speed limit," while asserting that autobahns are Germany's safest roads, with a disproportionately low percentage of traffic fatalities despite high usage.

Brockmann's research does not anticipate a significant shift of traffic to rural roads if speed limits are introduced, as autobahns are expected to remain the fastest routes. The study, which utilizes AI models, is the first of its kind for Germany, as previous research from 1977, 2000, and 2006, as well as assessments from the Federal Environment Agency, may not be fully applicable to current conditions.

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possibilities and limits of a speed limit