Wissing refuses
Association of cities wants a free hand with Tempo 30
6/6/2023 2:36 am
Tempo 50 is currently the standard speed throughout Germany. Transport Minister Wissing wants it to stay that way. The Association of Cities insists on the coalition agreement and claims the decision on 30 km/h zones for the municipalities.
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities is calling for a free hand for local authorities to impose a speed limit of 30 km/h on roads. “The decision as to where Tempo 30 can be sensibly arranged should be left to the municipalities,” said managing director Gerd Landsberg of the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten”. “Therefore, it is incomprehensible why the Federal Ministry of Transport has not yet presented a draft for the implementation of the coalition agreement on this point.”
The coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP states: “We will adapt the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic Regulations in such a way that, in addition to fluidity and safety in traffic, the goals of climate and environmental protection, health and urban development are taken into account in order to give the federal states and local authorities scope for decision-making to open.” Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing said in April that many opportunities had already been created to make it easier to introduce 30 km/h on certain routes and in certain zones. In addition, the FDP politician argues that there is talk about how to expand the possibilities of the municipalities.
“Security central to municipal traffic planning”
Landsberg considers the previous specifications to be insufficient. According to him, the regulations come from a time when the focus was on the car and the flow of traffic. “Today, climate protection, clean air, urban development and, above all, the safety of other road users also play a central role in municipal traffic planning.” However, he spoke out against the nationwide introduction of 30 km/h in cities, for example because this would reduce the flow of traffic on thoroughfares.
At the end of January, the German Association of Cities demanded that municipalities should be allowed to introduce a 30 km/h speed limit city-wide. Wissing rejected such general guidelines. Tempo 50 is currently the standard speed in urban areas in Germany. The Ministry of Transport lists options online where a speed limit of 30 km/h can already be ordered: in residential areas, in particularly dangerous situations, for noise protection, protection against exhaust fumes or around facilities such as schools and day-care centers.