In the future, municipalities will be able to impose a speed limit of 30 more easily. This is provided for in a resolution that was passed by the National Council on Wednesday afternoon. According to the text of the law, the authority can reduce the maximum permitted speed in local areas in areas with a special need for protection, such as schools, kindergartens, hospitals or senior citizens’ facilities, provided the measure is suitable for increasing road safety for pedestrians or cyclists.
The initiative for this legal resolution came from the communities themselves, who wanted more flexibility. So far, corresponding speed reductions have been able to be prescribed, but only with a certain amount of bureaucratic effort, such as the preparation of an expert report.
The SPÖ did not go far enough with the provision. Traffic spokesman Alois Stöger believes that ultimately everything will remain the same. NEOS also expressed similar fears. Nevertheless, transport spokesman Johannes Margreiter saw a package that would improve road safety, which is why his parliamentary group, in contrast to the Social Democrats, agreed. The Freedom Party has more fundamental concerns. Their traffic spokesman Gerhard Deimek fears that the decision will be the first step towards introducing a speed limit of 30 km/h across the board. In addition, like Stöger, he lacks a more precise definition of where the speed can be limited. A mayor could do the same in front of his private driveway.
The coalition, however, was satisfied. Green transport spokesman Hermann Weratschnig saw an active contribution to respectful coexistence. After all, two thirds of the daily traffic accidents occurred in the local area. VP traffic spokesman Andreas Ottenschläger then also spoke of a good step towards more traffic safety in the country. Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) sees one of the most effective measures to reduce the number of accidents, dirt in the air and traffic noise.
Adjustments to speed cameras
In addition to simplifying the 30 km/h speed limit for municipalities, the StVO also provides for the possibility of transferring responsibility for speed cameras from the states to the municipalities. According to information from the Ministry of Transport, this option currently only exists for those municipalities that have a municipal guard.
In the future, the states should also be able to authorize all other municipalities to do this. “The prerequisite for this is a transfer regulation from the respective country. This can be issued as soon as the amendment comes into force (July 1),” said the ministry.
The law does not provide for any detailed requirements in this regard: the country can therefore largely regulate the details itself. “In terms of content, of course, the general legal requirement still applies that speed cameras must take place where this is necessary for reasons of increasing or ensuring road safety or to keep away dangers or nuisances, in particular due to noise, smell or pollutants and to protect the population or the environment appears necessary for other important reasons,” it said.
The handling of criminal proceedings remains the responsibility of the district administrative authorities. In order to compensate for the costs incurred, the amendment provides for a division of the fines collected between road maintainers and district administrative authorities of 80 percent to 20 percent. “There will be no change to the general rule that any fines will benefit the road maintainers,” said the ministry.
The amendment to the road traffic regulations also includes a waiver of green flashing traffic lights at certain intersections or entrances – namely if this improves traffic flow.
This article was updated at 5:58 p.m
