Austria’s success
As debate continues ad infinitum in Greece over speed limits, in Austria the Transport Ministry has introduced a variable speed limit on its highways of 80 to 160 km/h. Initial results have been promising, with a 35 percent reduction in traffic accidents. The experiment is being conducted on a 12-kilometer stretch of the A10 highway in the province of Carinthia. The speed limits for each specific section of the road are set out on electronic signs (the maximum speed currently permissible in Austria is 130 km/h). The speed limits change according to weather conditions and traffic flow, with the maximum permitted only when conditions are perfect. Initial results show that varying the speed limit and increasing the maximum speed led to better traffic management. Road deaths have decreased by 12 percent this year, accidents by 35 percent and serious injuries by 30 percent.
