Road Safety Programme
It is clear that road safety cannot be a matter for the state alone - it is a task for society as a whole, which can only be accomplished if everyone gets involved. This is the basis for the new Road Safety Programme, which sets out the guidelines for the Federal Government's road safety policy until 2030. Questions and answers about the topic can be found here.
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Improving the road infrastructure and increasing road safety for cycling are part of the "Federal Government's Road Safety Programme 2021-2030".
Photo: picture alliance/dpa/Riedl
Why is there a new Road Safety Programme?
The Federal Government's Road Safety Programme 2021 to 2030 is a follow-up to the 2011 Road Safety Programme, which expired at the end of 2020. It identifies the measures through which the Federal Government wants to contribute to improving road safety on Germany's roads by 2030.
As set out in the coalition agreement for the 19th legislative period, the focus of the new Road Safety Programme is on the obligation to implement "Vision Zero" - i.e. the medium-term reduction of the number of road deaths to zero, as the guiding principle of road safety work.
The number of road deaths is at the lowest level since the start of systematic road accident statistics. In 2020, 2,724 people died in road accidents in Germany - which is 10.6 percent lower, or 322 fewer deaths, than in the previous year.
What is different in the new Road Safety Programme?
With the "Road Safety Pact", the Federal Government, the Länder and local authorities have for the first time drawn up a joint strategy for road safety work in Germany. Under the motto "Safe mobility - everybody is responsible, everyone is involved", this strategy combines the efforts of all the stakeholders in one.
The Federal Government sees itself as a key stakeholder, initiator and coordinator in this process. In its areas of responsibility, the Federal Government’s primary goals at the start of the decade include:
- actively exploiting the potential of automated, autonomous and networked driving for greater road safety,
- advancing the improvement of the road infrastructure for new and existing roads, and
- assigning a central role to improving road safety for cycling.
How does the Federal Government promote road safety?
The Federal Government is specifically committed to road safety, and in particular, to ensuring the safety of more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists - for example, through the "Turn Assistant Campaign", the "Helmets Save Lives" campaign, and the "Käpt’n Blaubär" (Captain Bluebear) road safety guide for children.
In 2019 and 2020, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure had a budget of €15.4 million per year available for awareness measures to improve road safety. This amount is also available in 2021 for investment in prevention measures to increase road safety.
Further information on the Federal Government's work on road safety is available from the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.