According to a recent study, many of the 406 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents in 2025 could have survived if a standard speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour were enforced within urban areas in Germany.
The investigation conducted by the Björn-Steiger Foundation found that the “overshooting accident”-collisions that occur when people cross streets away from regular intersections-was particularly common during the period covered. Siegfried Brockmann, the foundation’s lead accident researcher, pointed out that vehicle speed plays a major role in these types of accidents.
A quarter of these accidents took place at designated crosswalks, and in roughly a third of these cases, safety deficiencies were noted. Brockmann criticized these structures, stating that they convey a false sense of security and are unacceptable. He argued that such crossings must either be redesigned to comply with regulations or removed entirely.
The study also observed that severe accidents frequently involved children and the elderly. While seniors were often overlooked, children were frequently seen emerging from blind spots or running unexpectedly into the roadway. Therefore, the recommendation is that compliant pedestrian crossing aids should be installed more often in areas with high foot traffic. Brockmann emphasized that many collisions could be prevented through proper behavior. He concluded by stressing the urgent need for drivers to be sensitized regarding the dangers of inappropriate speed.