Speeders in Drohe: Residents are demanding a speed limit of 30 km/h after new accidents!

Speeders in Drohe: Residents are demanding a speed limit of 30 km/h after new accidents!

In the small town of Drohe, which belongs to the municipality of Wrestedt, there is a traffic issue that is worrying the residents. Manuel Tiedemann, an affected citizen, stands stunned next to a destroyed garden fence that once protected the cozy grounds of a residential building. The garden fence was recently the target of a speeder who got into trouble with his Audi. The good news: The driver escaped with a shock; The bad news: This is not an isolated case.

Accidents caused by driving too fast occur again and again in Drohe. Tiedemann reports on several incidents in the past. Particularly dangerous, he emphasizes, are the accidents in a particular left-hand bend, which have already led to the toppling of a lamp post and the destruction of a wooden fence. He is also concerned about the safety of cyclists and children. “It is high time that something was done here,” demands Tiedemann, making it clear that speed measurements by the district are urgently needed. He also advocates the introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit.

Dangers on the roads

Given the frequent occurrence of speeding in the area, Tiedemann has put up a banner that reads “Get off the gas!” hung to draw attention to the problem. Despite his repeated requests for speed measurements from the district, Tiedemann has only received sobering answers. The authority points to legal requirements and the difficulties in setting up speed cameras, which Tiedemann can only see as a weak excuse. “I hope that the authority’s decision will be reviewed soon,” he says optimistically.

In the broader transportation world, it turns out that Drohe is not alone in these problems. In 2022, around 23 million speed measurements were carried out at 230 measuring points in Austria, with the Road Safety Board (KFV) reporting that 72 percent of drivers in local areas do not adhere to the speed limit of 30 km/h. Worrying: Almost 1,500 cars were driving at more than 70 km/h in these zones. A particularly successful “speeder” was even caught traveling at a speed of 159 km/h in a 30 zone, which impressively shows that road safety often falls by the wayside.

Road safety requirements

The KFV is calling for a reversal of the rule in the local area, in which 30 km/h should apply as the general speed limit. Klaus Robatsch, Head of Traffic Safety at KFV, is convinced that it is important to minimize careless and distracting driving habits, which are a significant cause of accidents. His suggestion: The possibility of increasing speeds to 50 km/h only if road safety allows this. In addition, speeding violations are required to be included in the warning system.

It remains to be seen whether anything will change quickly here in Drohe. But the desire of residents to make the streets safer is strong. “We have to stick together and make our concerns clearer,” said Tiedemann. It's up to everyone how safe our roads actually are. And if you hear “Easy off the gas!” helps raise awareness, then it has already served its purpose.

There is still a lot to do for the residents of Drohe to protect themselves and their children. It is to be hoped that those responsible will take action soon.

How the situation will develop further remains to be seen. But the voices of residents have one goal: more safety on the streets of Drohe and beyond.

For further information on speed measurements and road safety in Austria, see the reports from az online and today.at a reading recommendation to gain a deeper insight.