Be careful, speed cameras! These streets in Hamburg are now dangerous!

Be careful, speed cameras! These streets in Hamburg are now dangerous!

In Hamburg today it's time to "keep your eyes open in traffic" again, because the mobile speed cameras are ready to call speeding drivers to order. According to the latest information from News.de Eight streets in the city are currently equipped with mobile speed traps. However, corresponding locations can change constantly and there is no guarantee as to where exactly the flash will take place.

If the black car with the big flashing light suddenly drives in front of your nose, you will have to expect fines. These are not only due for speeding, but also for following too closely and running red lights. How bussgeldrechner.org reported that mobile speed cameras measure both the speed and the distance between vehicles. Not only can they be used flexibly, but they also tend to create a surprise effect. To make the whole thing really effective, radar detectors and real-time warning apps on smartphones must not be used. However, the smartphone remains on while driving as long as the warning function is switched off.

The facts about speed camera use

A look at the numbers shows that speeding is the most common traffic offense in Germany. Loud bussgeldportal.de Over 2.7 million such violations were recorded in 2022. Men are particularly noticeable here: around 2.1 million of them were fined for speeding, while there were only around 606,500 cases for women. It is clear that men “get stuck” on the accelerator pedal more often than women.

Speaking of cash: Income from fines has increased, especially in larger cities. In the first half of 2022, 22 cities recorded revenue of 53 million euros - twice as much as the year before. The stricter catalog of fines from 2021 plays its part here, as the penalties for speeding have been noticeably increased. Anyone who drives 16 to 20 km/h too fast in urban areas will face a fine of 70 euros.

Road safety in focus

But are all of these measures actually effective? A survey by the gas station chain HEM shows that two thirds of those surveyed have already had to pay a fine, with the majority of fines being in the range of up to 50 euros. It is also interesting that more and more drivers consider the speed limits to be appropriate - 58 percent of those surveyed agree with this. Nevertheless, there is a decrease in speeding; In 2023, only 55 percent of respondents were punished for exceeding this limit, while in 2021 it was 79 percent. Perhaps the increased surveillance has had its effect.

In any case, one thing is certain: in order to drive through the streets in Hamburg with impunity, you have to keep an eye on the eye scanners and speed traps of the traffic authorities. After all, it's not just about fines, but also about the safety of all road users. It is therefore to be hoped that the police's operational strategies will continue to be refined in order to maintain the element of surprise and increase road safety.