Würzburg: Flashed by an e-car?
The city is fully committed to e-mobility and has an e-flasher. But the citizens are not at all convinced by the measure.
Every motorist knows the first moment of shock when they think they have just been flashed. Whether mobile or stationary, new models are constantly appearing on German roads. Often, however, speeding offences are still recorded from cars at the side of the road. This was also the case in the Lower Franconian district capital of Würzburg until the city administration came up with a greener alternative. Now Würzburg has decided to turn an electric car into a mobile speed trap. In this way, the city wants to show that its commitment to the transition to electric mobility starts with the authorities.
With the phrase "Environmentally friendly to use", the city presented the new vehicle to the citizens. For about two years now, the city has been focusing on electric mobility and has been using e-bikes. Now the city wants to complement the e-bikes and provide the necessary traffic control with an e-car including a modern speed camera. In contrast to the old speed camera car that it replaces, the e-vehicle is equipped with the latest TraffiStar S350 laser measuring system, which should not only enable more precise measurements, but also make it easier to use on bends and in unclear stretches of road.
The city administration views the project with great confidence. With the new eco speed camera, "we are not only complying with the trend-setting city council resolution," says municipal officer Wolfgang Kleiner. "Rather, the city of Würzburg is doing pioneering work in the area of speed controls and, last but not least, making a significant contribution to environmental protection," he continues.
On the part of the citizens, however, the enthusiasm does not seem to be so great. The project caused amusement and became a laughing stock in the social media. "What a waste of money" wrote most of the Facebook followers of the city page. At the centre of the criticism is the decision to invest taxpayers' money in the electrification of a vehicle that is not in use every day. And when it does, it usually stays on the side of the road. The citizens of Würzburg wonder whether it could really contribute to environmental protection. They believe it is not worth it and even think that the project will discourage them even more from frequent visits to the city centre.
Admittedly, it is still too early to say whether the use of a single e-flasher can actually have an environmentally friendly effect. However, the fact that the Bavarian city is increasingly moving towards sustainable forms of mobility is a positive sign. After all, Würzburg is trying to move with the times and follow in the footsteps of other cities and districts. Indeed, the concept of green mobility is catching on in more and more administrations. And where there are no electric cars in use, the authorities are increasingly inviting their employees to use public transport or car-sharing services.