Safer driving on the B 256: New measures against motorcycle accidents!

Safer driving on the B 256: New measures against motorcycle accidents!

In Waldbröl, a comprehensive measure to improve traffic safety will be introduced next weekend on the so-called Schladernring, a popular section of the route for motorcyclists. This is particularly important because the B 256 is criticized not only because of its beautiful landscape, but also because of the large number of accidents. How oberberg-aktuell.de reported, construction work to install flexible road dividers in accident-prone curves will begin on Friday, August 29th. These measures are intended to prevent risky driving maneuvers and associated accidents.

The actual work will take place on Saturday, August 30th between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and on the nights of September 1st to 4th, between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Traffic disruptions cannot be ruled out while the construction site is being set up. The B 256 will be closed between the connection to the L 333 in Schladern and the Hahnenbach junction, but police and emergency vehicles can still pass through at any time. Detours will be signposted to guide road users.

Background of the security measures

The Schladernring is not only a favorite route for motorcyclists, but is also a controversial topic among local residents. Since the speed limits were reduced from 100 km/h to 70 or 50 km/h in 2021, citizens have complained about noise and safety complaints. But the number of accidents has hardly decreased in the past three years. According to Monika Treutler, police spokeswoman in Gummersbach, there have been 23 accidents on this section since then. The incident on June 27th was tragic when a young motorcyclist had a fatal accident. Regardless of the measures, the road remains a source of danger and it is clear that action still needs to be taken.

However, Mayor Larissa Weber and District Administrator Sebastian Schuster see a positive development in the upcoming construction work. They are convinced that the new lane dividers represent a safety gain for all road users and at the same time relieve the burden on residents. The proposal for this measure comes from Anika Schmidt from “MOTO e.V. – Biker in Dialogue” and was developed together with various stakeholders, which underlines the close cooperation between the city administration, police and residents.

Statistics and other measures

According to the ADAC, motorcyclists have a four times higher risk of being involved in an accident and the accident rate is seven times higher than drivers. There are over 500 motorcycle deaths every year, with many accidents being caused by excessive speed or driving errors. ADAC emphasizes that technical solutions such as cornering ABS or safety checks before driving can help to avoid accidents.

A regular exchange between the police, city politicians and residents could offer further solutions. Wastl Roth-Seefrid from the SPD is calling for more speed limits, while mobility manager Rudolf Bergen states that based on the current accident statistics there is no need for additional action. But citizens expect more commitment from those responsible.

The installation of the road dividers and the associated safety measures are just the beginning. The people in Waldbröl are waiting eagerly to see whether these measures will actually have the desired effect and whether the traffic situation will ease overall.