Tip of the Week: German Speed Limits
Posted on May 12, 2009 by Fiona Hilliard
This week’s Tip of the Week query comes from a customer called James, who’s heading to the German Grand Prix in July.
James says:
A couple of my mates and me are heading to the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring near Frankfurt in July. We’re picking up a rental car at Frankfurt Airport on July 12th. Just wondering what the situation is regarding speed limits. Is it true that there are no speed limits on German roads?
James
Editor says:
Hi James
Thanks for your question. Contrary to popular belief, there are speed limits in Germany. Almost 34% of the autobahn network is covered by strictly enforced speed limits. In cities and towns the speed limit is 50kph (31mph), it is 100kmph (62mph) outside of towns. The once famously low German speeding fines have been tightened up and a new road safety initiative means they now range from €70 (£61) to €760 (£668).
You mentioned that you are travelling to Frankfurt. You may be interested to know that several German cities-including Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Nuremberg, (where you might very well decide to travel to) operate low emission zones, allowing entry only to vehicles displaying the Umwelt Plakette sticker. These stickers can be purchased from the Umwelt-Plakette.de website for just €18.90 per day not including postal charges. If you don’t get one there, the sticker can be purchased within Germany at any emissions testing centre, authorized garage, or vehicle registration office in the city for around €5.
Discussion: 2 Comments
2 Responses to “Tip of the Week: German Speed Limits”
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Liam McEvoy
- 12th May, 09 06:05pm
Those Germans have the right idea when it comes to the environment. If only more governments followed their lead,then we’d save thousands on cleaning bills for building facades every year, not to mention health expenditure!
joe
- 28th Jun, 09 01:06pm
>Those Germans have the right idea when it comes >to the environment.
I`d say “sometimes”, as for example they constantly refuse to introduce a general speed limit. We all know, that this would save millions of tons of fuel and CO2 every year and nearly every country in this world has one – but there is just too much lobbyism for powerful cars in germany.
you can read the whole idiotic discussion about speed limit (which is as old as the motorways), in a german book now – free for download at http://www.rasen-im-treibhaus.de/