30 km/h in urban areas: police union wants to protect pedestrians and cyclists

In principle, a speed limit of 30 km/h should apply in urban areas; suitable roads can be opened up to 50 km/h as an exception. This is what the police union is calling for to better protect pedestrians to reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians, which has been stagnating for years. Experts see changes in traffic planning to protect the most vulnerable road users as important accompanying measures. At around nine percent or around 34,000, pedestrians have been the second-largest group of casualties after motorists for around five years, with a focus on under 15 and over 75-year-olds and a rising trend among senior citizens.

Approve suitable roads for 50 km/h, increase penalties

Michael Mertens, Deputy Federal Chairman of the German Police Union (GdP), points out that the consequences of accidents at 30 km/h usually lead to significantly less serious injuries. Roads on which there is no danger to pedestrians or cyclists can be opened up to 50 km/h by local authorities.

The GdP vice-chairman reiterates his opinion that higher fines should encourage compliance with speed limits. In 2023, he said that we were “still living in a discount country for fines”. In other countries, speeding is much more expensive. “As long as that doesn't change, many speeders will accept their punishment with a shrug of the shoulders.”

Rethinking as early as the planning stage

Pedestrians must be considered first when planning traffic. More crosswalks, traffic lights and traffic islands should make pedestrian traffic safer. As many accidents are caused by incorrectly parked cars, parking spaces should only be created in other areas, dpa quotes traffic planner Katalin Saary from the Association for Urban, Regional and State Planning. New possibilities should be used, such as active braking assistance systems and the networking of signal systems to warn road users of each other.

A large part of such demands have already been included by the government in 2021 in a road safety program running until 2030 with a focus on cyclists and senior citizens. In addition to a different distribution of traffic space and higher fines, it also makes it easier to designate 30 km/h zones on request. The current proposal, on the other hand, would allow the designation of 50 km/h zones only if there is a justified need.

As at the meetings in previous years, urban traffic planning and speed limits will once again be discussed by planners, police officers and legal experts at the Traffic Court Conference in Goslar from January 29. The three-day congress draws up recommendations for laws or amendments to existing regulations every year towards the end of January. Legislators often follow the results, albeit with some delay.

(fpi)