By Lukas Heiwolt, Moritz Rommerskirchen
BERLIN, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- An old discussion about the introduction of a general speed limit is being refueled in Germany.
Chairwoman of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), Saskia Esken, is advocating of abandoning Germans' almost unique freedom to drive as quickly as desired.
"A speed limit on our motorways is good for climate protection, serves safety and is easy on drivers' nerves," she said.
But German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer rejected any further debate on the issue.
"We have far more outstanding tasks than to put this highly emotional topic again and again in the shop window, for which there are no majorities at all," he said.
In contrast to all other European countries, there is no general speed limit on German highways but only an advised speed of 130 km per hour (km/h).
Recently, the German lower parliament Bundestag had overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by the Green Party -- with 498 against 126 votes -- which sought to introduce a legally binding speed limit of 130 km/h on German highways.
Bernhard Mattes, president of German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), said reviving the old "symbolic debate" about a speed limit would "not help either the environment, safety or the motorist."
Mattes argued traffic management measures which were based on weather and traffic conditions were "acceptable."
According to the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), about 70 percent of the German highway network is without a general speed limit while only 20 percent of highways are restricted mostly to 120 or 100 km/h alongside variable traffic guidance displays.
