The European Union's environment commissioner Stavros Dimas and environmental activists in Germany have said speeding on the autobahn wastes energy and called for a speed limit. German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee has rejected the idea.

The poll for ZDF television published on Friday showed 54 percent of Germans favor a speed limit of 130 kph (80 mph) while another 10 percent would like a limit below that level. Some 35 percent said they did not want any speed limit.

At least a third of German motorways have a speed limit while the rest carry only a recommended top speed of 130 kph where legally drivers can, and often do, travel as fast as they like.

German car firms like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, which pride themselves on producing powerful vehicles, fear speed limits on the autobahn would remove some of the allure of their vehicles and harm sales.

The survey also showed that 56 percent of Germans believe flights should be taxed at a higher rate because of the environmental damage they cause.