Hundreds of municipalities want to reduce the maximum speed for traffic to 30 km/h in cities to make cities more liveable. The transport minister rejects this and worries about through traffic.
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing has rejected the demand from many cities to set a 30 km/h speed limit across the board. “In the cities there is not only inner-city traffic, but also through traffic. It not only affects the interests of the city’s residents, but also those who have to drive through,” said the FDP politician to the “Tagesspiegel” (Saturday). These different interests must be taken into account. Tempo 50 is currently the standard speed in urban areas in Germany.
“We have already created many opportunities to introduce 30 km/h more easily on certain routes and in certain zones,” said Wissing. In addition, there is talk about how to expand the possibilities of the municipalities. “But I don’t believe in a nationwide speed limit of 30.”
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 should adjust the traffic law accordingly. The municipal umbrella organization supports the “Livable Cities” initiative from hundreds of municipalities, which is committed to allowing municipalities to set a maximum speed of 30 km/h in built-up areas where they find it necessary. The City Day is an alliance of more than 3,000 independent and district-affiliated cities and municipalities.
Source: Stern
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