Average speed cameras are currently fully operational in both directions within the three tunnels on the A7 motorway, where they enforce the 90km/h speed limit.
The decision to maintain this limit was confirmed by Minister for Mobility and Public Works Yuriko Backes in response to a parliamentary question from Pirate Party MP Marc Goergen. The MP had enquired whether studies existed to justify the limit on safety grounds.
In her response, Minister Backes cited a recent analysis from the Markusbierg tunnel on the A13. This study found that reducing the speed from 90km/h to 70km/h would lower the risk of an accident by more than a third.
The minister concluded that, based on this data, raising the speed limit in the A7 tunnels above the current 90km/h would consequently increase the risk of accidents.
Currently, a dynamic “downward” speed limit system is in place for motorway tunnels, which can automatically lower the limit if an incident is detected or during roadworks.
