New traffic light concept - drivers in Karlsruhe are deliberately disadvantaged compared to pedestrians

Created: 01/03/2022, 1:28 PM

By: Markus Hofstetter

In Karlsruhe, two pedestrian traffic lights were switched to permanent green for a pilot project.

© Uli Deck / dpa

A new traffic light principle is being tested for the first time in Germany.

Here, pedestrians and cyclists do not follow the car traffic, but vice versa.

Karlsruhe - Many parties are fighting for their rights on the streets in German cities, be it drivers, cyclists or pedestrians.

It is a conflict for which there is no one-size-fits-all solution, because the balance between the conflicting needs of the different road users should be guaranteed.

Karlsruhe is now taking a new path in a pilot project.

At two intersections, the city has converted the pedestrian traffic lights so that those who are on foot or by bike have permanent green.

This means that they can cross a street without waiting.

Karlsruhe is testing a new traffic light concept: sensors detect an approaching car

Only when a car is approaching does the traffic light for pedestrians and cyclists switch to red. The driver has to wait until they see green.

To do this, sensors were attached to the traffic light masts that register an approaching vehicle.

If several cars request green for themselves in a row, the automatic activation of a rhythm that is normally known.

Pedestrians and cyclists have seven seconds of green.

Several seconds of buffers follow before cars are green for 27 seconds.

Then the process starts from the beginning.

Karlsruhe is testing a new traffic light concept: the project is unique in Germany

For the project, intersections were selected that are used by many pedestrians and cyclists and less so by cars.

"Our hypothesis is that waiting times will not be shorter in all traffic situations," said Jan Riel, Professor of Transport Planning and Technology at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, who is scientifically accompanying the project.

The idea fits in with the basic attitude of a city that wants to promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

According to the city and University of Karlsruhe, the test is probably unique in Germany.

Data is recorded at both intersections in order to find out how the new types of traffic lights affect traffic and traffic safety.

In order to achieve a meaningful result, data had already been collected before the traffic lights were changed.

Karlsruhe is testing a new traffic light concept: the initial response has been mixed

An initial result is as expected.

"As expected, the response to the test intersections has been mixed," explains Matthias Günzel, head of the road traffic department at the Karlsruhe regulatory office.

"Pedestrians and cyclists only think that's good, drivers don't necessarily."

If the project proves itself, according to Günzel, further intersections in Karlsruhe could get a permanent green traffic light switch for pedestrians.

The effort has been minimal so far.

The sensor that records the cars, as well as the camera, which, according to him, records in compliance with data protection regulations, whether pedestrians, cyclists or cars are on the intersection, have come from the inventory.

It is unclear when the first findings from the project will be available.