THE EFFECTS OF RECOMMENDED SPEED COMPARED WITH A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 130 KM/H ON MOTORWAYS

THE TWO ALTERNATIVES, RECOMMENDED SPEED AND MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT ARE THE ONLY POSSIBLE FUTURE SPEED CONTROLS ON MOTORWAYS AND ONLY THESE EXIST AS A MEANS FOR ASSESSING THE OBJECTIVES STIPULATED BY GERMAN PARLIAMENT FOR MAJOR RESEARCH. THE PROJECT GROUP REGARDS THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT TO BE THE MOST FAVOURABLE SOLUTION. IF THE BASIS FOR ASSESSMENT IS EXTENDED BEYOND TRAFFIC BEHAVIOUR AND THE INCIDENCE OF ACCIDENTS, AS IN THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME, TO COVER ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC STRUCTURE AND THE EFFECT OF THE CHANGES IN VEHICLE REQUIREMENT AND ENERGY USAGE, A CHOICE FROM THE TWO ALTERNATIVES IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY CONSIDERATION OF THE TOTAL POLITICAL AFFECTS. BY USING VARIOUS MATHEMATICAL MODEL ANALYSES AND CONSIDERING ALL THESE ASPECTS, IT WAS SHOWN THAT BY PUTTING GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE ECONOMICS ASPECTS TO SUIT THE ASSUMPTIONS ADOPTED, THE CONTROL OF MAXIMUM SPEED IS NOT THE BEST SOLUTION IN SOME CASES. WITH A DOMINANCE OF THE SAFETY ASPECTS HOWEVER IT WAS PREFERRED. HENCE THE PROJECT GROUP CANNOT GIVE AN UNQUALIFIED RECOMMENDATION FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF 130 KM/HOUR ON MOTORWAYS, IF CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO ALL THE DECISION FACTORS. IF NO DECISION IN FAVOUR OF A MAXIMUM SPEED RESTRICTION IS REACHED, THE PROJECT GROUP RECOMMENDS RETENTION OF THE RECOMMENDED SPEEDS. INDEPENDENTLY OF THIS, THE GROUP RECOMMENDS A CHECK ON THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A GENERAL MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT OF 100 KM/HOUR ON WET ROADS AS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE FOR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS TO INCREASE ROAD SAFETY ON MOTORWAYS.