Berlin Increases Speed Control Measures to Combat Reckless Driving

In an effort to enhance road safety, the Berlin Senate has announced plans to intensify speed enforcement measures across the city. Despite a slight decrease in traffic accident figures in 2024, the number of severe injuries remains alarmingly high, with nearly 2,000 individuals sustaining serious injuries. Among the most vulnerable groups are older adults who are particularly at risk of being involved in traffic accidents.

During a recent presentation of the traffic accident statistics, Iris Spranger, the city's Interior Senator, emphasized the necessity of maintaining and increasing the pressure on speed enforcement. Currently, Berlin is equipped with 47 fixed speed measurement systems, which include 23 solely for speed monitoring and 24 that also capture images of vehicles running red lights. Additionally, the police have access to 21 radar-equipped vehicles and six mobile speed enforcement units that can be deployed at various locations.

The effectiveness of mobile speed enforcement is evident, with approximately 617,000 fines issued through these devices in the past year. In contrast, fixed speed cameras recorded nearly 248,000 violations. Spranger expressed a desire for more mobile units, which cost around EUR200,000 each but offer greater efficiency and the potential to generate significant revenue through fines. However, the city's finance department has yet to be convinced of the benefits of expanding the mobile enforcement fleet.

Another positive development is the allocation of 32 additional positions within the fine processing office, which currently has 303 staff members, to improve the handling of penalty notices.

Despite the overall reduction in traffic incidents in 2024--down to 133,365 from 134,136 in 2023--there remains a concerning trend in the number of fatalities. The total number of deaths stood at 55, a notable increase from the previous year's 33, with a significant portion of these deaths involving vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. In fact, 31 of the deceased were deemed to have been primarily responsible for the incidents.

The data reveals that older adults comprise a significant proportion of traffic fatalities, with 27 seniors among the deceased. This statistic highlights the growing concern regarding the safety of elderly citizens on the roads, who, along with children, are classified as a primary risk group. The trend of increasing accidents among seniors is apparent, with incidents rising from approximately 15,350 in 2020 to around 16,700 last year. This pattern reflects not only the aging population but also the greater mobility of older adults, including an uptick in cycling.

Many of these accidents involving seniors occur during routine driving situations that require good vision and alertness, such as lane changes and turns. The police have indicated that preventive education programs are becoming increasingly vital in addressing this issue.

The locations with the highest number of traffic accidents in Berlin include Tempelhofer Damm, Seestraße, Sonnenallee, Landsberger Allee, and Hauptstraße in Schöneberg, each recording hundreds of incidents.

The police also reported 149 incidents of illegal street racing involving multiple vehicles, as well as 171 cases of solitary drivers participating in unauthorized races. Furthermore, police pursued 301 vehicles for reckless driving, classifying these actions as illegal racing.

In total, approximately 3.8 million traffic participants received citations for various offenses, with 2.7 million of those related to improper parking. Additionally, 24,820 criminal charges were filed, primarily for driving without a license or insurance.