Wide awake in Every Day Life, Chapter 7, Part 2

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Chapter 7, Part 2
The message behind it was deliberately simple:
100 on the motorway.
80 outside built-up areas.
30 in built-up areas.
Not as a dogma.
Not as a moral posturing.
But as a voluntary culture of slowing down.
Driving more slowly doesn’t just save fuel.
It also reduces stress.
And it takes the strain off the system.
That was precisely the crux of it:
not arguments about bans,
but responsibility born of understanding.
Of course, this idea has polarised opinion.
In Germany, any discussion of speed often touches on habits, self-image and a sense of freedom.
But that is precisely why we must ask the question clearly:
Are we concerned solely with what is permitted?
Or also with what is responsible?
For me, the answer is clear.
Ultimately, the only thing that is responsible is what protects human life.
It is also important to take a human perspective.
Behind every road fatality there are many more people who bear the consequences:
Families.
Friends.
First responders.
Emergency services.
Witnesses.
Those involved.
And those responsible.
So when we reduce impact, we are not only saving lives.
We are also reducing suffering.
Emotional suffering.
Long-term suffering.
The suffering of the silent victims.
This truth becomes particularly starkly apparent in the context of lorry accidents.
Here, it is often not a matter of minor bodywork damage.
But of crushing injuries, underrun accidents and fatal scenarios.
That is precisely why the seemingly harmless attitude that driving a little faster is no big deal is so dangerous.
Many people think:
Better to drive a bit faster to stay alert.
But that is exactly where the trap lies.
Speed can feel easier subjectively.
Physically, it makes the consequences more severe.
And when it comes to a collision, every tiny difference counts.
This logic does not end on the motorway.
A particularly high number of people also die on country roads.
There, oncoming traffic, the urge to overtake, misjudgement and speed combine in a dangerous way.
That is why we need new ways of thinking there too:
lower speeds,
less urge to overtake,
fewer risky manoeuvres.
Not out of ideology.
But out of pragmatism.
Because, ultimately, it all boils down to one simple truth:
Speed exacerbates mistakes.
Mass multiplies impact.
And impact kills.
That is why we must take the impact out of it.
Out of lorry traffic.
Out of car traffic.
Out of our habits.
And out of the collective shrug with which we all too often view avoidable suffering.
Vision Zero does not begin where we endlessly argue about the maximum permitted speed.
It begins where we are prepared to acknowledge the obvious:
Less force protects lives.
And that is precisely what it is all about.
Not arriving as quickly as possible.
But arriving at all.
Safe and sound.
Home.

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Chapter 7, Part 2 The message behind it was deliberately simple: 100 on the motorway. 80 outside built-up areas. 30 in built-up areas. Not as a dogma. Not as a moral posturing. But as a voluntary culture of slowing down. Driving more slowly doesn’t just save fuel. It also reduces stress. And it takes the strain off the system. That was precisely the crux of it: not arguments about bans, but responsibility born of understanding. Of course, this idea has polarised opinion. In Germany, any discussion of speed often touches on habits, self-image and a sense of freedom. But that is precisely why we must ask the question clearly: Are we concerned solely with what is permitted? Or also with what is responsible? For me, the answer is clear. Ultimately, the only thing that is responsible is what protects human life. It is also important to take a human perspective. Behind every road fatality there are many more people who bear the consequences: Families. Friends. First responders. Emergency services. Witnesses. Those involved. And those responsible. So when we reduce impact, we are not only saving lives. We are also reducing suffering. Emotional suffering. Long-term suffering. The suffering of the silent victims. This truth becomes particularly starkly apparent in the context of lorry accidents. Here, it is often not a matter of minor bodywork damage. But of crushing injuries, underrun accidents and fatal scenarios. That is precisely why the seemingly harmless attitude that driving a little faster is no big deal is so dangerous. Many people think: Better to drive a bit faster to stay alert. But that is exactly where the trap lies. Speed can feel easier subjectively. Physically, it makes the consequences more severe. And when it comes to a collision, every tiny difference counts. This logic does not end on the motorway. A particularly high number of people also die on country roads. There, oncoming traffic, the urge to overtake, misjudgement and speed combine in a dangerous way. That is why we need new ways of thinking there too: lower speeds, less urge to overtake, fewer risky manoeuvres. Not out of ideology. But out of pragmatism. Because, ultimately, it all boils down to one simple truth: Speed exacerbates mistakes. Mass multiplies impact. And impact kills. That is why we must take the impact out of it. Out of lorry traffic. Out of car traffic. Out of our habits. And out of the collective shrug with which we all too often view avoidable suffering. Vision Zero does not begin where we endlessly argue about the maximum permitted speed. It begins where we are prepared to acknowledge the obvious: Less force protects lives. And that is precisely what it is all about. Not arriving as quickly as possible. But arriving at all. Safe and sound. Home.

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