The number of the day: 130

automobile

March 15, 2024

By Peter Kellerhoff

Reading time: approx. 2 minutes

The Germans and the speed limit – always hotly debated. 40 years ago today, the recommended speed of 130 km/h on German motorways was decided. Initially as a temporary experiment.

The year is 1974. After decades of the economic miracle, many Germans were able to afford a car; almost 20 million of them were on German roads. That had its price: there were more than 20,000 traffic deaths the year before. Added to this was the oil price crisis at the end of 1973, and the price of a barrel of crude oil rose by around 70%.

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Lots of traffic deaths and suddenly more expensive fuels – there should be a speed limit on German motorways. However, this sparked heated debates between supporters and opponents of the speed limit. Large-scale advertising campaigns further heated up the mood. “Reference speed. Our chance!” it was said German Road Safety Councilthe ADAC countered with “Free travel for free citizens” and collecting signatures. As we all know: The ADAC and the opponents of the speed limit prevailed. So on March 15, the federal government of Chancellor Willy Brandt (SPD) and his Transport Minister Lauritz Lauritzen (SPD) only decided on a recommendation, the so-called recommended speed: a “light speed limit”, so to speak. It was 130 km/h and it still applies today.

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For most drivers at the time, this was more of a sham debate anyway, as the vast majority were driving cars with 50 hp or less. In 1974 alone, there were 3.7 million VW Beetles registered that couldn’t even reach the recommended 130 km/h – at 125 km/h the bug was over.