Requirement for km / h: residents in Leipzig are waiting in vain

Requirement for km / h: residents in Leipzig are waiting in vain

in the northwestern Leipzig district of Lützschena-Stahmeln Klaus and Angela Wiegand have been committed to a speed limit on Elstergartenstrasse for seven years. Despite repeated applications to introduce the Tempo 30 zone, their efforts have so far been rejected. The current traffic on this main street often crosses the 50 km/h mark, which is particularly problematic in a residential area with a nearby playground. Klaus Wiegand argues that a speed limit is not necessary because it is a main street, while his wife Angela finds the dangers of such traffic to be extremely worrying.

Angela Wiegand made her first application for the establishment of a Tempo 30 zone in May 2018, which, however, was rejected due to the street surface and possible risk of spin when wet. A second application from the summer of 2024 hit the same fate because the Elstergartenstraße is part of the road main network and there is no legal basis for a speed limit. In other cities such as Hainichen, on the other hand, Tempo 30 zones were successfully created by abolishing the right of way.

changes in the road traffic regulations

The discussion about speed limits in Leipzig takes place against the background of a new amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO). On July 5, 2024, the Federal Council adopted a change that facilitates municipalities to set up speed 30 zones, even on main streets. This is made possible by the adaptation of the Road Traffic Act (StVG), which means that climate and environmental protection and the health of the population can be taken into account more in traffic planning. For example, municipalities may now order speed 30 if they want to close gaps between existing Tempo 30 routes or to meet high-frequency for regulations near playgrounds and schools. However, the security of the traffic remains the top priority, as the Federal Environment Agency emphasizes.

in Leipzig there are currently below-average options for planning tempo 30 zones. Only 63% of the side streets and 4.5% of the main roads have speed limits. Due to the upcoming STVO amendment, the city administration would like to review the situation on Elstergartenstrasse in order to offer residents a trace-appropriate solution.

outlook and initiatives

The initiative "Livelihood Cities through reasonable speeds" has been committed to more freedom of action in traffic planning for a long time. These endeavors are in accordance with the recommendations of the Federal Environment Agency, which already highlighted the need for changes in road traffic law in 2017 and again in a position paper from 2021. The focus on climate protection and urban development plays an increasingly central role within this context. The Federal Council even calls for the implementation of the "Vision Zero" to reduce the racing dead to zero, which underlines the need for increased measures.

With the upcoming changes in the road traffic regulations, the traffic situation in Leipzig could also improve as soon as possible.

The reporting from the Leipziger Volkszeitung and the continuing expectations of the Wiegands, while the Environmental Federal Agency explains the new approaches for urban development and climate protection.