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Berlin Parties Clash Over 30 km/h Limits as New Studies Strengthen Safety Case

New analyses cited in the debate show 30 km/h streets cut crashes with little effect on travel times.

Overview

  • Berlin’s CDU-led administration is moving to lift 30 km/h rules on 22 of 41 main-street sections, with transport senator Ute Bonde arguing improved air quality removes the original basis for the limits.
  • Greens lead candidate Werner Graf calls for expanding 30 zones and criticizes Mayor Kai Wegner for disregarding evidence on road safety and public health.
  • SPD transport politician Tino Schopf labels the rollback a dangerous decision and questions the rigor of the street-by-street assessments.
  • A Björn-Steiger-Stiftung study finds accidents, injuries and fatalities decline where 30 km/h is widened, with pedestrian death risk around 3.5% at 25 km/h versus about 37% near 50 km/h.
  • GPS-based evaluations reported from the UK indicate driving times rise roughly 3% in residential areas and 5% in city centers, adding under a minute on an eight-kilometer trip, while cities such as Graz and Helsinki report broader safety gains.