TRAFFIC CALMING POLICIES IN GERMANY

This paper discusses some German research on traffic and environm aspects of traffic calming. In Germany, rapid improvements have achieved with traffic calming, which has had three successive generations: (1) from 1976 on, traffic calming in residential are (2) from 1980 on, traffic calming in larger city districts; (3) c wide traffic calming, now emerging. Area-wide traffic calming ha been implemented on an experimental basis in Berlin and Mainz, al three medium- sized cities and a village. In the traffic calming methodology developed by three research institutes in the 1980's, integrated approach is to be used, to handle problems of traffic safety, traffic flow, urban development, and environment. Not on residential streets are to be reconstructed, but various other ro All people affected are to be involved in the planning, including business executives as well as residents. Traffic calming should place public transport at a disadvantage, and it should create incentives for cyclists. The paper also discusses: (1) 30kph spee limits as the first stage in traffic calming; (2) the Berlin mode traffic calming, using a speed limit below 30kph; (3) problems wi major roads, including speeds that are still too high and inappropriate reconstructions; (4) expenses involved in traffic calming, which are sometimes very great. For the covering abstra the conference see IRRD 853605.