Federal Council approves law reform: more reasons for creating new 30 km/h zones

In future, local authorities in Germany will be able to introduce 30 km/h zones and special lanes more easily. The Federal Council today approved a draft reform of the Road Traffic Act (StVG), which extends the scope of authorization for the authorities. Previously, the authorities could only do this to protect people, for example by creating pedestrian areas or traffic-calmed zones.

From now on, climate and environmental protection, health and urban development objectives will also be equally valid justifications. The provision no longer necessarily has to improve road safety or facilitate the flow of traffic. At playgrounds, busy school and pedestrian routes and stretches of up to 500 meters between two 30 km/h zones, the authorities will now be able to set up 30 km/h regulations more easily.

Still not comprehensive

The establishment of 30 km/h zones in front of schools and kindergartens, including on main roads, was already made easier in 2016. Based on this decision, the road traffic regulations still need to be amended accordingly. Transport and environmental associations have long been calling for the recently adopted reform, but it only partially meets their expectations: Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) said a year ago on the draft bill that there would not be a nationwide 30 km/h speed limit and that the safety and ease of traffic would remain the main objectives of the Road Traffic Act.

(fpi)