Don't drive so fast!

Source: Samuele Errico Piccarini en Unsplash

Spain to lower speed limit as oil prices rise

Spain will lower motorway speed limits, cut train ticket prices and use more biofuel under an emergency energy-saving initiative because of soaring oil prices brought on by unrest in Libya, an official said Friday.

The Libya crisis has sharply reduced exports from the oil-rich nation, and about 13% of the oil Spain consumes comes from Libya.

Deputy prime minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, said Spain's energy supply is not in danger, despite shutdowns by oil companies operating in Libya, but the national energy bill will rise significantly because of the sharply higher petroleum prices.

He said a €10 per barrel (£8.50 per barrel) increase in oil prices will cost Spain an extra €500m (£425m) per month.

Spain's energy saving measures will be approved formally next week and take effect on a temporary basis on 7 March.

The maximum speed limit on Spanish motorways is 120kph (75mph) and this will be reduced to 110kph (68mph). The government will rush to print new signs to alert people of the change.

"We are going to go a bit slower and in exchange for that we are going to consume less gasoline and therefore pay less money," Pérez Rubalcaba said. For instance, he said, a car running on petrol will use 15% less fuel at the new, lower speed limit.

The government also will order a 5% reduction in fares on commuter and middle-distance trains by the state railway system Renfe.

"We are going to wage a major campaign to promote public transport, which is always welcome but which in this case is absolutely necessary for us," he said.

Finally, oil companies will also have to add more biofuel to the gasoline and diesel they produce – from the current mandatory 5.8% proportion, up to 7%, the deputy prime minister said.

Source: Guardian 

What do you think of the new measure?

Will it be more successful than the recent appeal to use public transport to avoid adding to the contamination?