Filed under: Euro
Aw Snap! Poll reveals most Germans want speed limit on Autobahn
Three days ago we scoffed at an EU official's suggestion that a speed limit should be applied to the remaining sections of Germany's famous Autobahn that remain free to speed. While reports indicated that speed-loving Germans were up in arms over the idea, a recent poll shows that two in three believe a speed limit should be instituted. Whaa? Conducted by ZDF television, the poll showed that 54% of those surveyed favor an 80 mph speed limit, while 10% would like a limit even lower. There were still around 35% of the respondents, which would thankfully include German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee if he were polled, who don't want a speed limit at all.
The controversy over speed limits on the Autobahn stems from suggestions that an over excited right foot leads to lots of wasted energy, which obviously ain't too good for the environment. Interestingly, the survey also showed that 56% of those polled think flights should be taxed more because of their negative impact on the environment. Yeah, that's right! Cap our cars, we'll tax your planes!
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Keija 3:53PM (3/16/2007)
this horrible environment hysteria is killing me!
first they want to kill our car industry (mg co2 limitations), then they want to take our unlimited speed parts on the autobahn, then stupid green party politicians tell everyone to buy toyota, altough the VW Polo Bluemotion costs 9000 (!!!) Euro's less and has only 102 Mg Co2/km (prius: 104 mg Co2 / km) and, even worse the overall fleet emmissions of tozota are higher than those of Volkswagen ... and so on! ... and the Tabloid "Bild" (wich should be banned from earth alongside Atomic Bombs an North Korea), which too many stupid people in germany blindly "follow" supports all of this ...
Don't Mess up my future you stupid Politicians! Just because you want to get in the media, you don't need to make my life worse. Do something usefull, like improving the school system (that i'll finally leave behind in 3 months)
gosh, I think i need to go on the street and protest ...
greetings from berlin, home of stupid politicians and Satans "News"paper, Keija
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Evan Brom 3:55PM (3/16/2007)
I think a speed limit would hurt Germany as the autobahn is a large tourist attracting along with the Nurburg Ring. Make the speed limit 80 MPH and there is no difference bewteen that and a Freeway after midnight.
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Keija 3:56PM (3/16/2007)
oh, just one more thing
they should better concentrate on forcing china to become more enviroment concsious. Seriously, figure this, Germany's Industrie has reduced theyr overall emmissions by a lot (i don't know numbers) in the past decade, contrary to other european nations ... but now the european government has set new goals for the reduction of Co2 NOT concidering germanys efforts and wants them to do the same percentage of lowering than other nations. .. i wonder what "alice in wonderland" politicians came out of.
getting himself a cold Weizen,
Keija
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Bob 4:21PM (3/16/2007)
"Polls say..."
The media's favorite steaming pile of pseudoscience strikes again.
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GrindingAxis 4:31PM (3/16/2007)
So sick of this cult religion of environmentalism impeding on humans who are not the problem anyway.
What if humans aren't the problem anyway? The facts of legitimate science seem to point to other things:
http://www.nov55.com/gbwm.html
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Andi 5:16PM (3/16/2007)
I am a German and I don't want to have a speed limit on the Autobahn. Seems I'm a minority now.
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Carlos 5:53PM (3/16/2007)
Is this a surprise? Most people out there think we're reckless, polluting, dangerous, manic, obsessed, pathological speedfreaks.
In the local paper, I see all the complaints in the daily traffic column about speeders threatening to kill everybody's first born child by doing 80. Most people out there - and not for environmentalist reasons - want us to slow down. IMO, it's the same movement by the current adult generation (something about baby boomers?) to control every aspect of our lives in the name of safety and morality.
And it always wins.
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raul 7:33PM (3/16/2007)
im sure the survey was completely unreliable...
im reading stories all over the internet plus asking all my german friends (which are quite a bit more than a handful) and they all hate the idea of speed limits on the autobahn
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Sean Flanagan 9:30PM (3/16/2007)
"The media's favorite steaming pile of pseudoscience strikes again." I wholeheartedly agree, Bob.
The poll question was probably something like "Suppose it is a scientifically proven fact that speeds over 80 mph directly contribute to global warming. Would you support a national speed limit of 80 mph? Would you support a lower national speed limit?"
Just like all the other misleading polls in the news media that seem to conveniently fall right into place with the opinions of the author and/or editor and/or publisher and/or network. Take a look at President Bush' approval polls. http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm
How on earth is it possible that some polls have him at a barely negative rating but others have him well over 30% negative within the last 6 months? Polls are bunk.
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bathtub gin 2:45AM (3/17/2007)
This proves that polls usually say what the organizations that commission them want them to say. It's all in the way the question is phrased.
Polling nonsense aside - how can anyone seriously believe that unlimited speed limits on such a small percentage of European highways can have a significant environmental impact? The only impact they might have is if somebody's car slides off the autobahn at 150 mph and knocks over a tree on the side of the road.
This just proves the "sky is falling" hysteria surrounding the theory of man-made global warming. Some enterprising soul sold "comet pills" when Halley's comet came around in 1910. How long will it be before someone comes out with "global warming insurance"?
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Chris G. 4:51AM (3/17/2007)
This issue is as contentious as the 2nd Amendment. Every German I've met says that he or she revels in the fact that he or she can legally take his or her car up to any speed that it can travel. I think the people who don't want the speed limit just didn't participate in the poll.
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S K 9:09AM (3/17/2007)
Here is a link for you guys to enjoy
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,414677,00.html
I'm sure you'll laugh upon reading this.
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Galley 9:26AM (3/17/2007)
One thing I enjoyed about driving in Europe 20 years ago was the fact that my travel time was cut in half compared to the U.S. The highway systems there are designed for high speeds whereas our Interstate System will put you in the ditch if you try to take a curve faster than 85 mph.
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Ford Mustang 3:47PM (3/17/2007)
Sounds like the last great speed refuge is about to come to an end.
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Henry 1:56AM (3/18/2007)
There is no comprimise between environmentalism and reason. You can't reason with a die-hard environmentalist. They won't comprimise one bit. That is why I gave up on their ideas about 15 years ago. On the subject of speed limits on teh autobahn, that TV poll should ask actual autobahn users whether there should be a speed limit or not. The results would be markedly different. If you oppose the speed limit, barrage the TV stations and the politicians with phone calls and letters. You really need to keep on this. Believe me, if they try and introduce 55 or 65 mph limits here in the United States, this blogger will be out in the streets. Don't let those dirty, smelly earth mother loving greenie weanies dictate their lousy miserable ideas to you.
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