Speed limit on highways: Electric car drivers are more likely to support it
Image: MG (illustrative)
68 percent of electric vehicle drivers view a general speed limit on German highways positively. Among drivers of gasoline-powered cars, this figure is 57 percent. This comes from a representative survey conducted on behalf of ACV Automobil-Club Verkehr. The ACV finds it notable that electric vehicle drivers are more in favor of such a limit, as this may indicate that experiences with fuel consumption and range influence their attitude toward speeding.
In total, 58 percent of respondents viewed a general speed limit positively, while 29 percent viewed it negatively. 13 percent were undecided. A survey of ACV members showed a similar opinion: When specifically asked about a general speed limit of 130 km/h, 51.9 percent of the 6,831 participants supported it.
For electric vehicle drivers, choosing the right speed is also a matter of range. Higher speeds on highways significantly increase electricity consumption: the battery pack covers fewer kilometers, and more energy is required for the same distance. Those who drive slower can go further on a single charge. This tangible connection in everyday life could help electric vehicle drivers be more open to speed limits. However, the survey did not establish a causal relationship.
"In electric cars, high speeds immediately become a concern regarding range. Those who experience this connection in daily life might weigh the benefits of fast driving differently. The higher approval among electric car drivers is therefore an interesting indication of how electrification could also change attitudes toward speed and speed limits," says ACV CEO Holger Küster.
Women support speed limits more often
Differences emerge between women and men: 64 percent of women view a general speed limit positively, compared to 54 percent of men. Negative views are held by 21 percent of women and 35 percent of men.
Women also more frequently cite traffic safety and climate protection as reasons for a speed limit. At the same time, men feel safer on highways: 82 percent compared to 68 percent of women. According to their own accounts, 18 percent of male drivers usually drive faster than 150 km/h on an empty highway, while that figure is 8 percent among women.
Highways Convey Safety, Rural Roads Remain Accident Hotspots
Overall, 74 percent of the surveyed drivers feel safe on German highways. When asked about the type of road where they feel safest, 29 percent named highways. This surpasses rural roads with 21 percent, federal roads with 17 percent, and urban roads with 13 percent.
The majority of fatal traffic accidents occur on rural roads: According to the Federal Statistical Office, 56 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2025 happened there, while 10 percent occurred on highways. For ACV, this underscores that discussions about traffic safety should not be confined to highway speeds alone.
“Evaluate speed limits pragmatically rather than ideologically”
Speed limits are among the most emotionally charged topics in German traffic discussions. “ACV sees it as its duty to ground the debate in solid facts and a nuanced approach,” explains the organization. Therefore, in addition to addressing the fundamental stance on speed limits, the club has also raised questions about driving behavior, safety perceptions, and the arguments in favor of speed restrictions.
The results reinforce ACV’s commitment to taking different perspectives seriously and measuring measures based on their actual impact, it states. In its latest policy document on traffic issues, the club advocates for data-driven, route-specific, and variable speed limits. Speed restrictions should be implemented where they have been proven to reduce accidents or alleviate traffic stress. Expanding intelligent systems that adjust speed according to traffic conditions, weather, and accident occurrences should take precedence over blanket restrictions.
“Support for speed limits deserves as careful consideration as concerns against them. What matters most is identifying measures that have been proven to enhance safety. We need understandable criteria and speed limits that suit the specific road and traffic conditions,” says Küster.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions on ecomento.de. Learn more.
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