The speed limit on Spanish motorways was reduced yesterday to save energy as oil prices soared because of the Middle East crisis.
Thousands of new signs went up across the country reducing the limit from 120km/h (75mph) to 110km/h (68mph). The fine for breaking the new law is €100 (£86), but drivers will not have points put on their licences if they are caught.
Fares on local and middle-distance trains were also cut by 5 per cent to encourage Spaniards to leave their cars at home. Street lighting was to be cut by 50 per cent but, after advice that the move could cause more accidents, bulbs in lamps will be replaced with energy-saving versions instead.
The measures were rushed in to reduce the country’s dependence on imported energy as the price of crude oil rose amid continued tensions across the Middle East.
Spain imports 75 per cent of its energy, compared with the European Union average of 60 per cent. In terms of crude oil, Libya is the second-biggest supplier to the Spanish, providing 13.4 per cent. Iran supplies 18.7 per cent.
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Spain’s Socialist Government claims that the new measures will cut foreign oil imports by 5 per cent, saving €2.3 billion each year. The measures will reduce the import of barrels of crude oil by 28.6 million and reduce CO2 emissions by 12.5 million tonnes.
In a country where the car is king, however, the plan has met furious opposition. Fernando Alonso, twice Formula One world champion, said: “I don’t support these measures. There are other much more effective measures to reduce fuel consumption than this one. At 110km/h, it is even difficult to stay awake.”
The Ferrari driver’s comments provoked a rebuke from Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, the Deputy Prime Minister. “In the US the maximum is 110km/h and when I have been there I have never seen them driving asleep, nor the Swedes, Norwegians, Russians, British or the Irish,” he said.
Cutting commuter train fares sparked a backlash from regional authorities who say they should not be forced to foot the bill. Political leaders in Madrid and Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, said they were already battling to reduce spiralling debt. Catalonia, the rich northeastern region, last year ran up €29.5 billion (£25 billion) in debt — a 24.2 per cent rise.
“They invite you to a coffee; you drink it, and they tell you you have to pay for it,” said Francesc Homs, a spokesman for the Catalan Government.
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The opposition conservative Popular Party, which runs Madrid regional government, said that the energy-saving measures would not work because they covered only 4 per cent of public transport journeys yet it would land them with a bill of €45 million (£38 million).
Motoring organisations have also opposed the measures, claiming that they will cause more accidents. Movimiento (Movement) 140, which wants to see speed limits restored, is to hold a protest in Madrid next Sunday.
IMPORTS, EXPORTS, DESPOT
Libya is the world’s 17th largest oil producer and the 3rd largest in Africa
Estimates suggest that the country’s production rate of 1.6 million barrels per day has been halved by the continuing unrest
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Europe is most affected by the loss of Libyan oil exports, importing 85 per cent of the country’s output
Italy buys about 32 per cent of this, while 14 per cent goes to Germany. France and China each receive 10 per cent and 5 per cent goes to the United States
Libyan oil accounts for more than a fifth of the oil supply for Ireland and Italy, according to the International Energy Agency
Source: International Energy Agency, Times research