Cologne reduces speed to 30 - focus on protests and noise protection!

Cologne reduces speed to 30 - focus on protests and noise protection!

From the Monday after next, the maximum speed on Luxemburger Strasse in Cologne, between the Military Ring and Barbarossaplatz, will be reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. This measure has already caused discussions because head of the mobility department Ascan Egerer decided to implement it without the coordination of the responsible committees. Critics from the ranks of the CDU, FDP and SPD expressed their dissatisfaction with the department head's actions, while the interest group "Livable Lux" is fully behind the plans. The political pressure on Egerer also came because there were complaints about failure to take noise protection measures, which led the district government to demand a noise report. An external report has confirmed that the noise limits on Luxemburger Strasse are exceeded, although experts point out that these cannot be met even with the speed reduction.

However, Egerer sees the measures as steps towards health protection and road safety. In addition, the city plans to convert one of two lanes on Luxemburger Strasse into a bike lane next year. However, it is expected that this could lead to significant backlogs, especially on the Eifelwall. This burden is increased by light rail line 18, which crosses the road and could disrupt traffic flow. In May, the Transport Committee finally gave the green light to the measures, although they are still controversial.

Speed ​​limit 30 for better quality of life

Reducing speed is one of the most effective approaches to reducing road noise. Experts confirm that driving at 30 km/h can reduce noise emissions by up to 3 decibels, which is a significant reduction in perceived noise pollution. Lower speeds lead to more consistent driving behavior, less braking and acceleration, and at the same time promote better communication between drivers. Studies, such as the VSS research project, show that 30 km/h not only makes traffic flow more smoothly, but also increases safety at pedestrian crossings.

A look at other cities that have introduced a 30 km/h speed limit on a large scale shows the positive aspects. Environmentalists are calling for this regulation to be expanded nationwide. In many places it can be seen that the noise level and the number of traffic accidents increase as speed limits increase. Initiatives such as “Livable Cities and Communities” have already mobilized numerous cities, including Cologne, to demand more say in setting speed limits. This movement has reached over 500 cities and towns and represents more than a third of the German population.

Traffic development in an international comparison

Although the standard speed limit in Germany has been 50 km/h since 1957, many European cities have already had positive experiences with 30 km/h. Cities such as Brussels, Helsinki and various French cities have recorded notable reductions in the number of traffic deaths since the introduction of 30 km/h. In French cities, there were up to 70% fewer road deaths thanks to the speed reduction. Such results support calls for the nationwide introduction of 30 km/h speed limits in cities in order to improve not only the environment but also the quality of life of citizens.

It remains to be seen how the measures on Luxemburger Strasse will have a long-term impact. The city has high expectations for reducing noise and improving road safety, while critics and supporters alike are reacting to the developments. In any case, it shows that the topic of speed reduction is an important part of the discussion about the quality of life in urban areas.

For more information about the background to the speed reduction, see Review online, FOEN or Deutschlandfunk.