This paper discusses in what respect the implementation of speed limited zones (maximum 30 km/h) will be possible and necessary. Experiences over a decade of speed limited zones in Hamburg showed that: (1) the total number of accidents in speed limited zones went down by 10%; and (2) that accidents with injured people or death decreased by 16%. The social acceptance of the 30 km/h speed zones by car drivers detected by police speed enforcement measures is 55%. In the spring of 1992, the Hamburg Police Traffic Department reduced the existing speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h with a package of measures. This consisted of a combination of engineering measures, public education, and intense enforcement. Speed and accident investigations were conducted before and after the speed limit reduction implementation. The Hamburg Police found out that the speed limit decrease reduced the accident figures on the restricted main roads by 19,7%.
Abstract