Dispute over speed limit: Jarmen fights for safety on the streets!

Dispute over speed limit: Jarmen fights for safety on the streets!

In Jarmen, a small town in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, a heated argument broke out over the speed limits on the main road. The “The Left” faction in the district council is reacting to a worrying traffic accident and is now planning to question the administration’s decisions. There is currently talk of lifting the 30 km/h speed limit on town thoroughfares, which the district traffic authority has ordered. The pressure on the transport authority is growing, and the issue is to be discussed at the next meeting of the infrastructure committee on September 18th, as nordkurier.de reports.

Jeannine Rösler, deputy parliamentary group leader of “Die Linke”, has taken a clear position. She is demanding a detailed explanation from the district administration as to how the change from 30 km/h to 50 km/h came about, and against the will of the community. Rösler knows the situation in Jarmen from his own experience and expresses serious concerns about the district office's decision. She advocates maintaining the 30 km/h speed limit in order to increase the safety of all road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists.

Road safety and speed limits

The background to this debate could not be more current, as it also reflects broader social discussions about speed limits. A survey by the ADAC shows that 55 percent of members now support a general speed limit on motorways, which represents a significant change in opinion. Although motorways are known as the safest roads in Germany, a speed limit could also significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. The ADAC recommends an objective debate and advocates that scientific studies should first be carried out on the effects of a speed limit on traffic safety and climate protection, as adac.de reports.

The Federal Environment Agency confirms that speed limits can not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also increase traffic safety and reduce noise and pollutants. According to calculations, a speed limit of 120 km/h on motorways could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4.5 million tonnes annually. This measure could ultimately lead to a saving of 1.0 million tons of CO₂ equivalents by reducing speeds on out-of-town and inner-city roads, as umweltbundesamt.de explains.

A look into the future

In times of climate change and increasing numbers of accidents, it is even more urgent to find solutions for safer and more sustainable transport. While the discussion about speed limits on motorways progresses, it remains to be seen how the issue will turn out in Jarmen. The upcoming meeting of the infrastructure committee could play a decisive role in determining what happens next with the speed limits and whether residents in the city of Jarmen can finally hope for more safety.