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Tempo 30 in Germany
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Stefan Sauer/dpa
France's third-largest city Lyon has achieved positive results two years after the introduction of 30 km/h speed limits on most city streets. "We have reduced the number of accidents by 35 percent, that's enormous," said Mayor Grégory Doucet to the broadcaster BFMTV. "And what's even more pleasing is that we're recording a 39 percent decline in serious accidents, that is, the number of deaths and seriously injured people who have to go to hospital," said the Green town hall boss. “That means we saved lives.”
Since March 30, 2022, the speed limit has been 30 on more than 80 percent of the streets in Lyon, similar to the French cities of Paris, Grenoble, Lille and other major European cities such as Amsterdam. The stated aim of introducing the speed limit in the French metropolis was to increase traffic safety, calm the flow of traffic and achieve a better division of public space. In addition, it should be made easier for pedestrians and cyclists to get around.
Not all drivers are still sticking to the speed limit, as the station reported. The average recorded speed is 38 kilometers per hour, and last year 17,000 fines were issued for speeding. The speed limit is not just limited to the city of Lyon, it will soon also apply to 24 municipalities in the surrounding area of the metropolitan area with around 1.4 million people.
The number of 30 km/h zones is also growing in more and more German cities. However, a law that was intended to give cities and municipalities more leeway for, among other things, setting up 30 km/h speed zones failed in the Federal Council at the end of November.
sak/dpa