Traffic – Munich – risk of accidents particularly high at the beginning of the motorcycle season – Bavaria
Munich (dpa / lby) – Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann is calling on road users to show more mutual consideration as the motorcycle season begins. “In 2021, 108 motorcyclists died in accidents on Bavaria’s roads, far too many. Especially at the beginning of the season, the risk of accidents is high,” said the CSU politician of the German Press Agency.
Motorists would also have to get used to the fact that there are more motorcyclists on the road. Particular caution is required, especially when turning and overtaking, said the minister. “All in all, we need more reason from motorcyclists, more attention from drivers and even more consideration.”
The number of motorcyclists killed in road traffic has recently fallen – but in 2021 it accounted for almost a quarter of all road users killed in Bavaria. To get hooligans out of circulation, there are, among other things, special “motorcycle control groups” and prevention events.
When asked how one wanted to counteract some motorcyclists, some of whom drove very loudly, Herrmann answered: “There are always black sheep who intentionally understand how to drive loudly through towns or winding roads.”
Bavaria relies primarily on increased controls. “We are specifically targeting the motorcyclists who deliberately and ruthlessly speed through towns at high speeds or with unapproved or manipulated exhaust systems.” The “motorcycle control groups” are specially trained and equipped with sound level meters.
The mobility expert of the Greens in the state parliament, Markus Büchler, still sees a need to catch up on the controls: “At critical points, such as some winding alpine roads, which cause danger and noise pollution, the police must control more consistently and punish violations so that a decent cooperation works.” He also calls on motorcyclists to behave quietly and carefully.
The transport policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Inge Aures, said that petitions from noise-plagued residents repeatedly reach the transport committee. The be-all and end-all is mutual consideration, but they could also imagine that new noise cameras could also be used on “particularly noisy routes and where people like to drive fast”.
“But that has to be clarified on the spot. This shouldn’t become a case of patronizing the considerate motorcyclists,” emphasized Aures. Noise cameras are used in France, for example – at least as a test. They trigger when a vehicle is too loud.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220415-99-927272/2