Scheuer wants to partially mitigate punishments for traffic offenders

Some new traffic rules have been in effect for a good two weeks - and tougher penalties for driving too fast. There are protests against this. Transport Minister Scheuer reacts.

Berlin (dpa) - The new road traffic regulations have not yet been in force for three weeks - now Minister of Transport Andreas Scheuer wants to take back harsher penalties for traffic offenders.

According to information from the German Press Agency, the ministry of the CSU politician is working on the revision of part of the catalog of fines. Above all, it is about the rule that a driving ban is now in danger for a month if you drive 21 kilometers per hour too fast in urban areas or 26 km / h out of town. This regulation is "disproportionate", the Ministry said.

This causes great excitement among drivers, the Ministry says. Reference was made, for example, to a petition entitled "Undo the driving license case of the StVO amendment", which has more than 135,000 supporters. With a change, the acceptance among the citizens and the "sense of justice" should be restored. What is planned in detail is open. However, the ministry had already approached the federal states in order to obtain the approval they needed for implementation.

The changes to the traffic regulations came into force at the end of April. In February, the Federal Council tightened Scheuer's bill on many points, including the rule on driving bans for speeders. Scheuer had nevertheless put the amended regulation into force - the alternative would have been to withdraw it entirely.

The focus of the new road rules is actually better protection for cyclists, especially in cities. Among other things, cars are now no longer allowed to stop on bicycle protective strips - previously parking was only permitted there, but stopping was allowed. A minimum distance of 1.50 meters in urban areas and two meters out of town has been mandatory for overtaking cyclists since April 28. Trucks over 3.5 tons have to travel at walking pace when turning right in urban areas if bicycle or foot traffic has to be expected.

In addition, there are numerous tightening in the catalog of fines - for example, the impending ban on driving from 21 km / h above the permitted speed, along with a penalty of 80 euros and a point in the driving suitability register, ie in "Flensburg". Up to now, driving licenses could only be withdrawn in the event of a single violation from 31 km / h in town and 41 km / h outside.

Driving too fast with the change also became more expensive. In cities and out of town, the possible fines double up to the 20 km / h mark. Up to 10 km / h too fast now threaten 30 euros in urban areas, up to 15 km / h 50 euros and up to 20 km / h 70 euros. Everything stays the way it is. Outside of locations, it is now 20, 40 and 60 euros.

In addition to the ADAC auto club, the FDP and AfD in particular had criticized some of the new rules as being unbalanced or excessive. Another tightening, however, was well received by almost everyone: anyone who drives unauthorized in a traffic lane through an emergency lane for emergency vehicles can be punished with a fine of up to 320 euros, a month's driving ban and two points. So far, such a penalty has only been threatened if drivers have made no space for an emergency lane.