Spain: the Spanish government willing to consider raising the speed limit to more than 120

It seems hard to believe, but the Spanish government would be willing to end the current 120 km/h limit on motorways and dual carriageways. According to the Interior Minister, Jorge Fernández Díaz, it is “open” to raising the limit, although the first step will be to analyse the environmental impact of the measure.

According to the Interior chief, a “slight” increase in speed would have no effect on road fatalities, since the vast majority of fatalities occur on conventional roads. However, the build-up of greenhouse gases and their effects on the environment should be studied “in depth” before tackling a measure like this, according to the minister himself, since Spain pays “a fortune” in emission allowances.

With vehicles that can perfectly well maintain a cruising speed of 140 km/h or more, without very high CO2 emissions, the chances of raising the limits are real and likely. But we would need to see what Treasury’s view on the matter is and how many vehicles on the Spanish fleet can meet low emission standards.

Source | ABC