Auto News Europe has reported that the world famous open speed limit on Germany’s Autobahns is under threat and surprisingly 60 percent of Germans are apparently in favour of imposing a speed limit.

This time around the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of global warming. It seems that studies undertaken by those mysterious folk who study such things shows that a set speed limit will reduce the CO2 emissions of speeding vehicles by a whopping 5 percent and this will increase to 15 percent as more efficient vehicles are introduced in the long term – which is still only a 5 percent decrease that is attributable to the set speed limit.

Following criticism from “Leave the lights on at the mansion” Al Gore for not having set speed limits to reduce CO2 emissions, Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) fearful of rising seas recently voted in favour of imposing a 130kmh limit.

The SPD is in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) which means the non-binding vote has little chance of becoming law because Merkel is firmly against a speed limit.

“There won’t be any such patronizing from the CDU. It’s another scary proposal from the SPD,” said CDU general secretary Ronald Pofalla.

Smells a little like the “Anti-open-speed-limit-lobby” have recruited the environment to further their cause. A bit like busting Al Capone for tax evasion.

[Source: Automotive News Europe]