In a move that will make some drivers very happy, the three political parties likely to form Germany's next government have agreed to not impose a speed limit (Tempolimit) on the autobahn.

German motorway without a speed limit

During talks over the formation of a coalition, the winners of Germany’s recent federal election, the Social Democrats (SPD), have agreed with the Greens and the Free Democrats (FDP) that no general speed limit will be introduced on the autobahn. Ironically, a coalition between these three parties would be known as a “traffic light coalition.”

The announcement means that the Greens have abandoned their promise to impose a 130km / h limit on German motorways. “We couldn’t get the speed limit through,” Green co-chairperson Robert Habeck admitted on Friday, the day the announcement was made. “In other places, we are very pleased with how the [agreement] has come out.”

Political negotiations

The FDP has always been against imposing a speed limit on the autobahn but were expected to reconsider their stance if the Greens would agree to coalition talks with the conservative CDU. However, with coalition talks between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP underway, it seems that the Greens now consider no limit an acceptable price to pay for other, favourable left-wing policies.

The SPD has previously stated that it would like to bring in a speed limit. However, the party seems to have now reversed their stance, leading some to suggest that the SPD’s leader, Olaf Scholz, a BMW driver, is against establishing a limit on the autobahn.

Why should Germany implement a speed limit?

The autobahn is famous for being one of the only major motorways in the world where drivers are unencumbered by a general speed limit, although limits are enforced on some particularly dangerous stretches of motorway, or around construction works. However, one recent poll revealed that 64 percent of Germans are in favour of introducing a general limit. Campaigners argue that a federal limit would help reduce accidents.

Environmental activists want a speed limit to be enforced as well, in the interest of carbon-friendliness. A study by Germany’s Environmental Protection Agency found that a general 130km / h speed limit could save 1,9 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.