Flower pots or speed cameras? Dettinger local council in the dispute over traffic safety!

Flower pots or speed cameras? Dettinger local council in the dispute over traffic safety!

There is currently a heated discussion in Dettingen about the future of the plant boxes at the entrance to the town on Konstanzer Strasse and on Ringstrasse. Alfred Reichle from the SPD faction in the local council criticizes these buckets and requests their removal because, in his opinion, they are neither beautiful nor necessary. A maximum speed of 30 km/h applies on both streets, which makes the buckets obsolete as a traffic calming measure. A stationary speed measuring system is also being planned, which will further influence driving behavior in the area. Frank Conze, head of the traffic and fines department, fears that driving speeds could increase without obstacles. Nevertheless, Reichle is open to the idea of ​​retaining the buckets in the event of a speed camera being installed closer to the center of town. The exact location is still being determined with the company that will install the speed measuring system. Kurt Demmler (CDU), who believes the buckets are necessary for traffic safety, also supports this proposal.

The discussion about the buckets shows different views within the local council. Christoph Müller from the Free Voters suggests visually narrowing the street with cycle lanes, but points out that most cyclists ride on Glockenbrunnenstrasse and are therefore hardly to be found on the Ringstrasse. Mayor Sarah Seidel (CDU) rejects the proposal as inappropriate and describes these cycle lanes as “death strips”. Müller points out that the buckets hinder the flow of traffic, especially because the ring road access is used by the fire department. Daniel Späth (CDU) sees the buckets on Konstanzer Strasse as advantageous, but finds them unnecessary on Ringstrasse.

Traffic calming in Dettingen

The issue of road safety is not just local, but a widespread concern. Traffic calming measures are intended to help road users adhere to the maximum permitted speed and thus increase safety. The diverse measures range from one-way streets to bollards and paving to flower pots and lane narrowing. These instruments can be integrated into road traffic if a qualified danger situation can be proven, such as through traffic counts. According to the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), the responsible authorities must check whether such measures are necessary. Especially in 30 km/h zones, such as those planned in Dettingen, various design elements can support traffic safety without being seen as obstacles, as is the case with flower pots, for example suedkurier.de.

During the local council meetings, the possibility was also raised that the speed camera could be moved in order to improve traffic safety. Some members advocated retaining the planter at the entrance to Schmidtenbühl in order to offer more safety to children playing. At the end of the discussion, eleven local councilors agreed to put the issue of the buckets on Konstanzer Strasse on hold for the time being. While eight voted in favor of preserving the bucket at Schmidtenbühl, five spoke out against it. What is clear, however, is that the three flower pots on the Ringstrasse should disappear. The councils seem to agree on this and further thought should be given to road safety.

Overall, the discussion about traffic safety and the design of public space in Dettingen remains exciting. The various approaches to achieving traffic calming are complex and can be implemented differently depending on the circumstances and needs of residents. Efforts to ensure safe traffic management are essential - all stakeholders must contribute their ideas in order to find the best possible solution. The dialogue between those responsible for the community shows that, in the interests of all road users, careful consideration is given to which measures can achieve the best results stv2go.de, transformatorin.at.