Berlin: Vision Zero through Tempo-30
Transport Senator Jarasch wants to introduce more 30 km/h zones in Berlin. Her declared goal is to avoid traffic fatalities and injuries. One way to achieve this is to slow down cars. Noise and air pollution could also be reduced in this way.
On Tuesday, Jarasch decided that Berlin would join the nationwide city initiative "Liveable Cities through Reasonable Speeds", which advocates 30 km/h speed limits. More than 60 cities such as Leipzig, Hanover, Düsseldorf and Wolfsburg already support the initiative. It calls for a new regulation of powers, whereby the city council itself can decide and justify which parts in the city can be subject to 30 km/h speed limits. After all, road traffic regulations are a federal matter, cities cannot simply pass new laws or designate new zones for 30 km/h speed limits.
Jarasch is not only in favour of a 30 km/h speed limit, however: She wants fewer cars on the road in general and commercial transport that is primarily carried out by rail, water and cargo bikes. E-transporters should also be part of this. In this way, transport by truck could be reduced or eliminated altogether.
After all, most fatal accidents are caused by trucks turning right without an assistance system and running over bicycles, and not by speeding. Fewer fatalities would only be achieved if there were an obligation for trucks to be equipped with a turn-off assistant. In Germany, there is to be an obligation to install a turn-off assistant from 1 July 2022. However, only for long trucks that are longer than 18.75 metres. And these are not allowed to drive at all in Berlin.
In order to advance the mobility turnaround, more protected cycle paths and more zebra crossings are needed anyway. In addition, separated traffic light circuits are an important instrument to prevent traffic fatalities. With separated traffic lights, bicycles and motorised vehicles get a green phase one after the other and thus no longer get in each other's way.
A major advantage of 30 km/h is the reduction of pollutant emissions and the improved air quality for all road users. In the long term, this will also help to avoid driving bans.