Lawyers Debate Europe-wide Speed Limit for Small Trucks

The 42 annual Transportation Law Conference got underway in the town of Goslar on Friday with more than 1,600 legal experts from around Europe meeting to discuss the most important issues in traffic law. High on the list of priorities was the introduction of a European-wide speed limit for small trucks. Speaking on behalf of the transport lobby ACE, Wolffgang Rose called on politicians to push through a limit of 120 kilometers on the Autobahn in order to halt the "sprint maniacs" and reduce the high rate of accidents. ADAC, Germany’s largest driving club, rejected the initiative saying a reduction in speed would not automatically reduce accidents. Instead the club’s lawyer Markus Schäpe suggested more mandatory rest breaks for drivers. The number of speed-related accidents tripled between 1996 and 2001, according to the Federal Office for Streets and Traffic. But the government has not yet come to a consensus on lowering the speed limit.