Many people against a speed limit on the highway – but probably only until it would be in force

Whether a smoking ban, speed limit or mask obligation: new rules often encounter great resistance. As soon as they are in force, the rejection usually subsides. This has found out scientists from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Vienna. You explain why this is so new study.

« Before the introduction of a rule, the focus is very much on my personal losses, » says researcher Armin Granulo, who participated in the study and has now worked for the Ludwig Maximilians University. People would ask themselves: « What do I lose? Comfort, freedom, choice? » For example, the freedom to drive as quickly as you want on the highway. Or the opportunity to smoke in a pub.

Speed ​​on the highway? « Clear social advantages »

Opinion researchers show that this concern is high of personal losses among the population. An example: Depending on the survey, about 40 percent of Germans speak out against a speed limit on motorways.

As soon as a rule applies, the rejection swings significantly. « After the introduction, we focus more on what the measure has for advantages, also for society as a whole, » says Granulo. “In the case of the speed limit, there are also clear social advantages, for example the reduction of CO₂ Or the reduction of accidents.  »

« So initially resistance is not just permanent resistance, » says Granulo. In his view, politicians could sometimes act more courageously – at least if a rule has proven advantages for people or the environment. At the same time, Granulo warns: « Our research should not be understood as a license for a head-through-wall policy in which one tries to control everything with prohibitions and rules. »

Nevertheless, politicians could take advantage of the findings: « The study shows how important communication is when introducing new rules. If the social benefit is emphasized, the rejection will decrease before the introduction. »

New study from Munich: for whom a rule already applies, it is more likely to accept it

In addition, rules must be clearly formulated in order to be accepted. Unlike a smoking ban that was introduced in Spain in 2006. « This law had a relatively large number of loopholes, » says Granulo. « In this case, the rejection lasted longer than in cases where there are fewer loopholes and that make a clear cut. »

The researchers created their study by analyzing representative surveys before and after the introduction. For example, for the ban on smoking at workplaces in several European countries, for strap in the USA and tightening the speed limit in the Netherlands.

They also carried out experiments in which they asked the subjects about hypothetical scenarios. For example, for an obligation to vaccinate or driving bans in city centers. Half of the participants should imagine that the measures will be introduced in one year – the others that the rule has been in place for a year. Whether with the obligation to vaccinate or when the driving was banned, the results were the same: for whom a rule already applies, it is more likely to accept it.

If you want to experience the phenomenon in a practical way, Granulo has another tip. For example, when it comes to the question of introducing a speed limit on motorways: If you leave the German motorway towards Austria, you can only drive a maximum of 130 kilometers per hour. When Granulo does it himself, he thinks every time: « It is not that uncomfortable. »