Transport

Motorway speed limit: where do Germany’s seven parties stand?

The statement in the quiz

Germany should introduce a general speed limit on its motorways (Autobahn).

Background

Germany has no national speed limit on its motorways; 130 km/h is only a recommended speed. The German motoring club ADAC estimates that about 73% of the motorway network has no fixed limit. Parties that want a limit mostly propose 130 or 120 km/h.

Sources for the background: ADAC: Speed limits on motorways

At a glance

CDU/CSUAgainst
AfDAgainst
SPDFor
GreensFor
Die LinkeFor
BSWNot in manifesto
FDPAgainst

ForLeaning forNeutral / mixedLeaning againstAgainstNot in manifesto

Party by party

CDU/CSU Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU)

Against

Rejects a general speed limit on motorways.

From the manifesto „ein generelles Tempolimit auf deutschen Autobahnen lehnen wir ab“

Source: CDU/CSU manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 74

AfD Alternative for Germany

Against

Firmly rejects a general speed limit.

From the manifesto „Die AfD lehnt ein generelles Tempolimit auf Bundesautobahnen strikt ab.“

Source: AfD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 45

SPD Social Democratic Party

For

Wants a 130 km/h speed limit on motorways.

From the manifesto „Wir wollen ein Tempolimit von 130 km/h auf Bundesautobahnen einführen.“

Source: SPD manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 36

Since the election: In government, the 2025 coalition agreement left out a speed limit.

Greens Alliance 90/The Greens

For

Says a general 130 km/h limit on motorways is long overdue.

From the manifesto „Ein Sicherheitstempo von 130 km/h auf Autobahnen als generelles Tempolimit ist deshalb überfällig.“

Source: Greens manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 48

Die Linke The Left (Die Linke)

For

Wants a limit of 120 km/h on motorways and 30 km/h in towns.

From the manifesto „brauchen wir endlich ein Tempolimit von 120 km/h auf Autobahnen und innerorts Tempo 30“

Source: Die Linke manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 37

BSW BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance)

Not in manifesto

The manifesto does not mention a speed limit; its transport chapter generally opposes policies that lecture people and ban things.

Source: BSW manifesto for the 2025 federal election

FDP Free Democratic Party

Against

Opposes a general speed limit.

From the manifesto „Wir Freie Demokraten lehnen ein generelles Tempolimit auf Autobahnen ab.“

Source: FDP manifesto for the 2025 federal election, PDF page 41

Positions are coded on five steps: for, leaning for, neutral or mixed, leaning against, against. A party whose manifesto says nothing on the statement is marked “not in manifesto”, and the quiz leaves the statement out of that party’s score. The coding method and its checks are on the method page.

Where do you stand on this one?

This is one of the statements in the German Party Spectrum Quiz. The whole quiz takes about five minutes and shows how your views split across the seven parties, plus your place on an economic and social map. No sign-up, and we never ask who you are.

Start the quiz