Germany’s autobahns are famous for having no speed limits but proposals to introduce one appear to be slowly gaining ground.

The deputy head of Germany’s Police voiced his support for a limit on Friday, calling it “crazy” that some people legally drive at 200-250 km/h. He said one in four road deaths could be prevented and tailbacks reduced if a 130km/h limit was imposed

Last week, a leaked draft document from the National Platform on the Future of Mobility, a government-appointed committee, proposed setting a speed limit of 130km/h, not on the grounds of safety but as a way to reduce pollution and limit climate change.

Germany could be hit with heavy EU fines if it fails to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and poisonous nitrogen oxides. Transport emissions, which have not fallen since 1990, are a particular target for reductions.