German autobahns are famous for having no universal motorway speed limit, although slightly more than 50% of them have posted speed limits[1] and about 10% are equipped with motorway control systems that can show variable speed limits.[2] There is no national speed limit, either, for cars and motorcycles on any highway outside of towns if it has a central reservation or a minimum of two marked lanes per direction. On such roads, as well as motorways, a recommended speed limit (Richtgeschwindigkeit) of 130 km/h (80 mph) applies. While driving at higher speeds is not punishable, the increased risk induced by higher speeds (erhöhte Betriebsgefahr) may result in partial liability for damages. Moreover, the law forbids to travel at speeds that would prolong the vehicle's minimum halting distance beyond the driver's line of sight.[3] On all German roads, there are speed limits for trucks, buses, cars towing trailers, and small motorised vehicles (Mopeds, etc.).
The introduction of a national speed limit for motorways and similar roads has been on the agenda of various political and environmentalist groups for decades, but at present, there are still no definite plans on behalf of the federal government regarding the matter.
In 1973, in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, a federal speed limit of 100 km/h on Autobahns was imposed to help conserve fuel for fear of impending future shortages (not for environmental or safety reasons). The measure only lasted from December 1973 to March 1974; while the administration and the Bundestag were in favor of keeping the speed limit, the Bundesrat pushed to repeal the law. As a compromise, a recommended speed was introduced on Autobahns and "highways outside of built-up areas with a center divide or without a center divide and a continuous lane for overtaking in both directions". This law is basically still in effect today. Unrestricted non-Autobahn highways, however, have since become virtually non-existent or replaced by Schnellstraßen, Autobahn-like expressways typically limited of to 120 km/h and normally only covering a few kilometers.
The Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environmental Agency) repeated its recommendation of such regulation in early 2007, but the Merkel administration saw no need for it. Even after a 2007 party congress held by the SPD, then one of Germany's governing parties, where a proposal to impose a blanket speed limit was approved, there was outspoken opposition within the administration. At present, it is generally thought that a blanket speed limit would not be significantly beneficial, regarding both environmental and climate concerns and road safety. Current estimates conclude that a speed limit would reduce Germany's overall CO2 emission by a mere fraction of a percent, and in terms of highway safety, German Autobahns are among the world's safest.
Legally, however, state and even local authorities have the power to enact speed limits. The district of Cologne has posted a speed limit on the heavily frequented Cologne Beltway. Effective April 9, 2008, Bremen began enforcing a general 120 kilometers per hour speed limit, citing environmental concerns. However, Bremen's new limit only impacted an additional 11 kilometers of Bremen's 60 kilometers of Autobahn;[4] most Bremen motorways already had some speed restriction due to congestion and noise.[5]
In 2006, 57% of the German motorways had no speed limit at all. Roughly one third of regulated roads have computer-controlled traffic guiding systems with variable electronic signs along carriageways showing the set speed limit, or, current road conditions and traffic density allowing, indicating that no speed limit is set at the moment.
Driving faster that 3 km/h above the posted or implied speed limit is considered a punishable infraction in Germany.
Speed limits were unknown on West German roads until 1956. In that year, speed limits for built up areas were introduced. An ominous portent of things to come appeared in Düsseldorf on 21 January 1957 in the form of the country's first radar speed trap. The apparatus was the size of a car radiator and could accordingly be hidden behind a parked unmarked police van. A year later these devices went into volume production.[6]
On rural roads that are neither motorways nor roads as described above, there is today (2011) a national speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph), which is routinely reduced to 70 km/h (43 mph) or 80 km/h (50 mph) where the road approaches a junction with a significant side-road. Lower speed limits apply to lorries, some buses, and cars towing trailers.
There is a general speed limit within village, town and city limits, which are marked by distinctive rectangular yellow signs showing the name of the village, town or city, of 50 km/h (30 mph) but residential areas usually have a lower posted speed limit of 30 km/h (20 mph). On arterial roads, the speed limit may be raised to 60 or 70 km/h (37 to 43 mph); this higher speed limit will be posted in the usual way. Motorways crossing cities count as normal Autobahns and can be used for travel within larger cities in many cases.
Minimum speeds are very rarely marked in Germany. Vehicles which cannot sustain speeds of 60 km/h are not allowed on the Autobahn, however.
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