“We are currently not in a supply bottleneck,” says the green energy and climate protection minister. But it would make sense to drive more slowly.
The Green Energy and Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler has rejected calls for a lower speed limit on Austria’s roads. “Slow driving is a contribution that everyone can make,” she said on Friday in the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal”. Legal measures could only be decided in the event of a supply emergency, which does not currently exist.
The suggestion after the at least temporary introduction of lower speed limits to save energy was last from Carinthia’s governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) came. Also the mobility organization Austrian Traffic Club (VCÖ) welcomed the proposal. According to a study by the Federal Environment Agency, a car that drives on the Autobahn at just 100 km/h instead of 130 would consume 23 percent less fuel.
“I’m not at all reserved when it comes to saving energy,” emphasized Gewessler that is. However, the possibility of action in the energy control only exists in the event of an absolute supply emergency. “We are currently not in such a situation,” said the minister. A two-thirds majority in the Main Committee of the National Council is then required as a prerequisite for a corresponding ordinance.
A rejection of Tempo 100 also came from the ÖVP. general secretary Laura Sachslehner also criticized the statements made by the Carinthian governor Kaiser: “A speed of 100 on the motorway is of little use and only causes trouble for those affected.” One is “against bans and harassment for drivers and commuters”. Also FPÖ traffic spokesman Christian Hafenecker spoke out against speed limits and instead for a fuel price cap.
Not quite clearly answered Gewessler also the question of postponing CO2 pricing. However, she referred to the eco-social tax reform of the turquoise-green government: “Of course it’s related.”
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