Dresden: Unknown people paint zebra crossings – city alerted!

Dresden: Unknown people paint zebra crossings – city alerted!

In Dresden, the situation is tense at the start of school: unknown people painted a zebra crossing on the street on Bischofsweg. This happened shortly before the first day of school for thousands of first graders and prompted the road and civil engineering department to file a criminal complaint for damage to property and dangerous interference with road traffic. The incident clearly shows how urgently improvements to road safety are needed in the city. There are only 63 zebra crossings in Dresden - a stark contrast to 126 in Leipzig, although three years ago 259 dangerous places for pedestrians in urgent need of a zebra crossing or traffic lights were identified. Unfortunately, only two new zebra crossings have been implemented since then. City councilor Stefan Engel (SPD) is now calling on the city administration to take faster measures to improve the unsafe traffic situation for children.

The city administration justifies the slow implementation of zebra crossings with the available resources and the prioritization of projects. According to the city administration, a zebra crossing with a sidewalk extension and a guidance system for the blind costs around 95,000 euros, which is a huge item in the city's budget. However, the safety of school children is at stake and leads to legitimate calls for those responsible to act more efficiently.

The meaning of zebra crossings

But why are zebra crossings so important for the safety of school children? Zebra crossings provide pedestrians and especially wheelchair users with clear access to the road, or, as is the case with the Traffic Watch It is emphasized that they make it easier to cross the street without the need for traffic lights. But be careful! Zebra crossings can also provide a false sense of security because not all drivers respect the right of way, which is particularly dangerous for children. In practice, studies find that 90% of road crossing accidents involve children. Here drivers are asked to take on their responsibility.

The new road traffic regulations (StVO) in cities like Stuttgart have resulted in a simplified arrangement of zebra crossings since mid-October 2024, especially on school routes. It is reported that the term “zebra crossing” appears in almost every second fake danger report. The city of Stuttgart is well on its way to ensuring greater safety for the youngest road users and is even using new markings and bollards to mitigate dangerous areas. But how do you recognize a suitable location for a zebra crossing? At least 200 vehicles per hour should travel on a road during peak times for the city to take action to take new measures.

Alternative solutions for traffic safety

A zebra crossing is by no means the only solution. There are also interesting alternatives such as sidewalk noses, which widen the sidewalk and increase visibility on the street. An example of this is the Steinenberg School, where these measures are already bearing fruit. The traffic watchdog explains that students at school also learn how to use zebra crossings safely, with specific rules and dangers being taught to them. Children should always make sure to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. An important point in pedestrian safety is to internalize these traffic rules early on.

How the city of Dresden will position itself in the future remains exciting. Parents could welcome City Councilor Engel's suggestion to increase the number of zebra crossings; after all, a safe route to school is of utmost importance for the little ones. Especially when you consider that road crossings will continue to have to be closely examined and made necessary, the voices for a rethink in the city are becoming louder and louder. It remains to be hoped that those responsible do not lose sight of the safety of school children and take appropriate measures as quickly as possible to ensure clear and safe paths for the youngest children. The ball is now in the city administration's hands.