Blitzmarathon in Bavaria: Herrmann draws a "questionable" conclusion - motorcyclist sets negative speed record

On Wednesday there was a nationwide flash in Bavaria.

Speeding too fast is considered to be the main cause of serious accidents.

Over 7,000 speeders went online.

Update from April 22nd:

Despite previously known checkpoints, the police pulled 7036 speed offenders throughout Bavaria during their 24-hour lightning marathon. "The fact that, despite days of advance notice and less traffic due to the pandemic, so many were traveling too fast is extremely worrying," said Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU *) on Thursday after the campaign was over. “Many road users are still not aware of how dangerous driving too fast can be. Speeders not only play with their own lives, but also with the lives of others. "

The negative record was held by a motorcyclist who was caught on a state road near Bubesheim in the Swabian district of Günzburg at 231 kilometers per hour - 100 were allowed. He faces a fine of 1200 euros, two points in Flensburg and a three-month driving ban. 

Blitzmarathon in Bavaria: Millions of euros invested in new technology

Herrmann announced that he would further strengthen speed controls in Bavaria in order to pull the unteachable out of traffic. In the past two years alone, 3.4 million euros have been invested in state-of-the-art control equipment, such as special laser measuring pistols and high-precision digital measuring devices. The minister again pointed out that driving too fast is responsible for almost a third of road deaths in Bavaria. In 2020, 147 people died in speed accidents in Bavaria - six more than in the previous year, although there was less traffic on the streets due to the pandemic.

Last year the Blitzmarathon was canceled due to corona.

At the last 24-hour lightning marathon in 2019, the police caught 10,821 speeders - despite measuring points that were known in advance.

The lightning marathon ended at 6 a.m. on Thursday.

Around 1,800 police officers were on duty.

There were also flashes in other federal states as well as in other European countries.

Blitzmarathon in Bavaria: 2100 possible measuring points

First report from April 21:

Munich - With speed controls at 2100 possible measuring points, the police want to slow down speeders in the Free State for 24 hours from Wednesday morning.

In other federal states and beyond the German borders in other European countries, flashing should start from 6 a.m.

Blitzmarathon in Bavaria: "Driving fast is not a trivial offense"

"Driving too fast is not a trivial offense, but the main cause of serious traffic accidents," said Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) in the run-up to the eighth Bavarian lightning marathon.

Almost a third of the traffic fatalities on Bavaria's streets can be traced back to it.

Here you will find the accident statistics from last year.

Speed ​​cameras in Bavaria: Despite less traffic, more deaths

Last year, according to Herrmann, 147 people died in speed accidents.

Despite the lower volume of traffic due to the pandemic, that was more accidental deaths than in the previous year with 141. "With our lightning marathon we want to shake up all road users to adhere to the speed limits."

Blitzmarathon canceled due to Corona 2020

Last year the Blitzmarathon was canceled due to corona.

Not least in view of the increased number of accidents, the decision was made to run the marathon this year despite Corona, added ministry spokesman Michael Siefener.

The open roads in particular may tempt you to step on the gas.

"Possibly the reduced traffic animates one or the other to drive faster than he should."

Blitzmarathon in Bavaria: focus on country roads

According to the Ministry of the Interior, a focus of the action will be the country roads.

Around 1,800 police officers and around 50 employees from municipalities and special-purpose associations of municipal traffic monitoring will be deployed across Bavaria.

The police officers will - wherever possible - stop and control speeders immediately.

The officers also look at possible alcohol and drug consumption, for example.

Blitzermarathon - overview: This is where lightning takes place

• Speed ​​cameras in the Miesbach district

• Speed ​​camera in the district of Munich

• Speed ​​cameras in the Fürstenfeldbruck district

• Speed ​​cameras in Middle Franconia

• Speed ​​camera in Munich

Herrmann occasionally countered suspicions expressed by the population that they wanted to cash in with such actions.

"We are not interested in issuing as many warnings as possible or sending fines." Ultimately: Nobody is blindly lured into the trap.

All Bavarian measuring points are available for download on the ministry website - everyone can get information in good time.

In the last 24-hour lightning marathon from April 3 to 4, 2019, the police caught 10,821 speed-setters - despite the measuring points published at the time.

The sad record was held by a 30-year-old driver who was traveling on the B 300 near Neusäß in Swabia at 160 kilometers per hour instead of the permitted 70.

The lightning marathon was invented in North Rhine-Westphalia, the first in Bavaria in 2013. This year's Europe-wide “Speed ​​Marathon” is coordinated by the European traffic police network “ROADPOL”.

In addition to Bavaria, lightning is also used in Brandenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Bremen, Hesse, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia.

Bavaria is participating in the road safety program 2030 "Bavaria mobile - safely to the destination".

This is how the speed camera marathon in Middle Franconia works.

List of rubric lists: © Lino Mirgeler / dpa