Safety discussion in Mainz-Lerchenberg: The display ensure confusion

Safety discussion in Mainz-Lerchenberg: The display ensure confusion

In Mainz-Lerchenberg, resistance is stuck to inadequate traffic rules in an allegedly traffic-calmed zone. The residents of Nino-Erné-Straße have observed in the past five years that the regulations are not observed by all road users. Despite the regulation that pedestrians and vehicles are equal and cars are allowed to drive at most at the speed of walking, many residents feel unsafe. The concern for children playing is omnipresent. A resident says that there are always dangerous situations because some drivers and cyclists do not keep the speed.

Again and again it is asked to ensure that the city is doing more for the safety of the residents. Even if a few steps - as the markings on the street with the words "We take consideration" - were taken, this was not enough to significantly change the driving behavior of road users. This meant that residents placed signs and displays who pointed out the children in the residential area and called for consideration.

bans and their return

At the end of July, a letter from the road traffic authority caused a sensation. The authority ordered the residents to remove the displays within 14 days with the argument that the objects would hinder road users. The tone and the reason for the writing left an impression with the mayor Sissi Westrich. "The displays stand on private land and serve to exhort drivers at the step speed," she replied to the authority. The ban came completely unexpectedly, because until then there was no complaints about the displays from the police or the traffic authority.

Westrich asked the question of alternative opportunities to improve traffic safety and was amazed at the hasty approach of the authority. In response to public pressure and the concerns of the residents, the road traffic authority withdrawn the ban at short notice. In a new letter it was said that the displays are tolerated for the time being, as long as the traffic is not blocked in an emergency.

measures to improve traffic safety

This turn could indicate crucial changes. The cities and municipalities face the challenge of creating safe street spaces for their citizens. In order to monitor the traffic volume and reduce the speed of the vehicles, the city of press office announced that controls will take place by the traffic surveillance office. In addition, it is considered to narrow the road at certain points - a measure that has already led to speed reduction in many places.

The increase in visibility for road users is another important point. A dialog display could be installed to make drivers aware of their speed. Such measures are not only important for the residents, but also for the security of all road users, especially for children who are supposed to play carefree in their residential area.

a complex topic of security

The incident in Mainz -Lerchenberg throws a significant light on the resistances that residents often experience against traffic accidents and security. The creation of a safe traffic area not only requires regulations, but also the willingness of all road users to take responsibility. The dialogue between the city administration and the citizens is crucial. While the city administration is under pressure with regulations and controls, residents must continue to actively demand a say. The case could serve as an example for other municipalities to illustrate the importance of cooperation between citizens and the authorities in relation to traffic safety.

A greater social topic is reflected in Nino-Erné-Straße: the challenge of traffic calming in residential areas. The discussion about traffic -calmed zones is not new and is often accompanied by the question of how a safe environment can be created for all road users. Similar problems have been experienced in many cities, where compliance with speed limits and the respectful coexistence of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are not always guaranteed.

An example of a comparable case comes from Hamburg, where residents on Schillerstrasse also use signs and other visual obstacles to warn drivers to drive slowly. These measures led to an intensive debate about the legal framework and the space in public space, which must be available both pedestrians and vehicles. In Mainz there is now a similar problem, whereby the city administration focuses on a legally clean implementation of the traffic rules.

Legal framework for traffic calming

According to § 32 of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), it is not allowed to place objects in the public traffic area, as this can be a risk to other road users. This provision is intended to ensure that the road traffic regulations remain clear and understandable for everyone involved. In many cities, however, there are initiatives that develop improved solutions for traffic calming, often subjected to broad citizenship participation. Another aspect is that traffic measures often have to go hand in hand with a long -term plan for urban development.

In addition, municipal surveys can be carried out in order to obtain the view and needs of the residents in a targeted manner and to take into account in the event of future planning. The “traffic dialogue” in Münster offers an example of such a citizen participation, where residents are actively involved in planning new traffic rules and infrastructures. The experiences and ideas of the residents are of crucial importance, especially in traffic -calmed zones, since they can often experience the problems directly and offer the best solutions.

protection of road users

In many German cities, including in Stuttgart, there are already tried -and -tested measures to improve traffic safety, such as speed measurements initiated by residents or temporary traffic -calming institutions. The feedback from these programs often show that such measures not only sharpen the awareness of drivers for their speed, but can often also lead to a decline in traffic problems and accidents.

These experiences can be valuable information for those responsible in Mainz. When testing under real conditions, there are often pragmatic solutions that meet both the needs of the residents and the requirements of the traffic regulations. An example of this could be the introduction of so-called "Tempo 30" zones or the furnishing of "shared space" models that offer pedestrians and cyclists more space and at the same time support the speed limits by designing the street.

In Nino-Erné-Straße, the challenge for the responsible authorities remains to ensure both the safety of road users and to respect the rights of residents. A continuous dialogue between citizens and the city administration could be the key to a long -term and sustainable solution.