A 60-km/h Speed Limit—Not Just for Simson? — Federal Council Asked

Thuringia supports a proposal by Saxony in the Bundesrat to extend the special speed limit regulation for GDR mopeds such as the Schwalbe and S51 to other vehicles. Until now, the 60 km/h speed limit has applied only to Simson mopeds manufactured in the GDR, but not to other light motorcycles. Thuringia will join Saxony’s motion on Friday (October 16) in the Bundesrat, the State Chancellery in Erfurt announced. 

The goal is to allow light motorcycles with a maximum design speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour in the future. “Especially in rural areas, this can improve individual mobility and make it easier to travel longer distances to educational institutions and workplaces,” according to the Thuringian State Chancellery.

However, this would require adjustments to EU regulations. Across Europe, mopeds are limited to 45 km/h; the Simson models from Suhl are an exception due to a provision in the German Unification Treaty. 

Saxony advocates for a regulation based on the principle: same technology, same speed limit. According to earlier statements, the goal is for the Bundesrat to call on the federal government to advocate for this at the EU level. Saxony had stated that the new regulation should apply not only to mopeds from the GDR era but also to newer vehicles, regardless of the manufacturer.