Wiesbaden relies on photo evidence against bus lane blockers

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Example photo for front camera use: Everyday obstacle course

Photo: ESWE Verkehr

Cars parked on cycle paths or bus lanes are part of the street scene in many cities – and obstruct traffic. Because those whose lane is blocked have to dodge. If this concerns buses, there are sometimes delays. The Wiesbaden-based transport company ESWE Verkehr no longer wants to accept this – and is introducing front cameras in public buses. The cameras are intended to provide photographic evidence of illegal parking on bus and environmental lanes or in areas of bus stops. The declared goal, according to a statement on the project, is to accelerate bus traffic in the Hessian state capital. According to the Frankfurter Rundschau, Wiesbaden is the first city in Germany to use such a system.

"Incorrectly parked vehicles in the street space slow down bus traffic massively," said Marion Hebding, commercial director at ESWE Verkehr, according to Tuesday's announcement. In most cases, drivers would have to merge into the flowing traffic in order to avoid an obstacle. "In the worst case, our buses will end up in traffic jams with other road users," says Hebding. Passengers do not reach their destination on time and are rightly angry.

For bus drivers, bypassing would mean additional stress in an already congested traffic situation, costing "unnecessary time and nerves," says Hebding. In the end, this also creates dangerous traffic situations.«

Clicking instead of scribbling

According to the information, the company plans to equip about 2024 vehicles with a front camera system by the end of 30. The cameras could be triggered by bus drivers at the touch of a button, instead of having to rely on handwritten messages as before. A photo series is created in which the location and the exact time are included by means of GPS data. All data protection requirements are met. Finally, the images would be manually checked, evaluated and forwarded to the municipal traffic authorities. Whether a fine procedure will be initiated will be decided there.

The entire process was tested in three test phases, it continues. On a total of 19 days during the test periods in April, May and June 2023, the company was able to document a total of 311 violations of the road traffic regulations with photo evidence.

Illegal parking on bus lanes in Wiesbaden is threatened with a fine of 70 euros. In the case of obstruction on environmental lanes, a point in the driving aptitude register in Flensburg is added to this fine. "We are convinced that the front cameras in our buses will have a deterrent effect," said Hebding.

Ani