The German government has ruled out imposing speed limits on the country’s autobahns after public outcry at the proposals. 

In a proposal leaked last week, drawn up by a committee on the future of transport, the government suggested officials were weighing up a universal speed restriction on the roads.

But government spokesperson Steffen Seifert told reporters in Berlin on Monday: ‘There are more intelligent control mechanisms than a general speed limit.’ 

A leaked government document revealed last week that politicians were mulling an 80mph speed limit

News of the potential speed limit sparked vitriol among petrolheads last week after it was leaked. 

The country’s decades-old motorway network is famous for ‘no limits’ sections where drivers can put even the fastest cars through their paces. 

Germany’s transport minister, Andreas Scheuer, said the idea ‘goes against all common sense.’

But prominent Green Party lawmaker Cem Ozdemir defended the proposal this week, calling it an ‘act of reason.’

The idea – still very much just a notion – would limit speeds on the country’s highways to 80 mph. Proponents say this would reduce air pollution, help fight climate change and reduce the number of car accidents.   

Germany could be hit with heavy EU fines if it fails to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and poisonous nitrogen oxides.

A government spokesperson confirmed Monday that the move had been reversed after public outcry

A government spokesperson confirmed Monday that the move had been reversed after public outcry

Transport emissions, which have not fallen since 1990, are a particular target for reductions.

The government is torn between the need to protect Germany’s crucial car industry, buffeted by a series of costly emissions cheating scandals in recent years, and the need to act to protect a rapidly deteriorating climate.

Charged with coming up with recommendations on reducing the environmental harm caused by transport, the government committee also proposed fuel tax hikes and electric vehicle quotas to help Germany finally meet EU emissions targets.