News

Red Light, Green Light, No Light

One German town’s traffic experiment.

Published

17 years ago

October 22, 2007

MaryKate Moran Signs of the Times October 2007 Issue

Bohmte, Germany’s town council has decided to remove all traffic lights and stop signs in an effort to reduce accidents.

According to the town’s mayor, pedestrians and the 13,500 cars that use the roads every day will have an equal right of way.

The European Union will cover half of the 1.2 million euros ($1.66 million) it will cost Bohmte to lose its lights. The concept already been applied in Drachten, a town in the north of the Netherlands, where all street signs and lights, as well as pavement and street markings, were removed.

Berlin traffic experts are skeptical; what works for the Netherlands won’t necessarily work for Germany.

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