Cyclomedia Study on Traffic Safety in Europe: Majority in Favor of 30 km/h Speed Limit and Zero Tolerance for Alcohol

How safe do Europe's citizens feel in road traffic? Cyclomedia, a world-leading provider of geodata technology, has tackled this question and released the Urban Road Safety Index (URSI) 2024, a comprehensive study comparing the perception of traffic safety in 32 European metropolises. The results show that Munich ranks in the top 10 for general road traffic safety perception, while Hamburg is among the top 20.

Berlin, Frankfurt, and Cologne perform well in a European comparison but, according to respondents, still need to improve their bicycle lanes and charging infrastructure. In all cities surveyed, the most frequently cited measure to increase traffic safety is better lane separation. The most surprising result: a majority of Germans support a 30 km/h speed limit in cities and an absolute alcohol ban.

Safety perception: German cities among the leaders

Among German cities, Munich residents feel the safest in road traffic. 84% of respondents stated that they feel "safe" (56%) or "very safe" (28%). Hamburg follows closely with 80%—and particularly impresses with 31% of its residents feeling "very safe." This is not only the highest value in this category among German cities but also across Europe. Berlin also performs well with 55% ("safe") and 18% ("very safe"). Cologne and Frankfurt follow closely behind. To further improve traffic safety in their city, surveyed Germans—like the rest of Europe—place better lane separation at the top of their wish list.

Tallinn: Where people feel the safest

Cities like Munich and Hamburg are role models for traffic safety in the German comparison, but the general mood in Germany is quite homogeneous. However, in a Europe-wide comparison, there are significant differences in the perception of safety. The outlook is particularly bleak in Rome and Athens: In Rome, 60% of respondents perceive road traffic as (very) unsafe, and in Athens, it is even 68%. The highest sense of safety in Europe is found in Tallinn (Estonia), where 88% of respondents stated that they feel safe or very safe.

"Our study clearly shows that Munich and Hamburg are among the safest cities in Europe—an outcome that reflects these cities' efforts in traffic safety. However, even the safest cities continue to face challenges, especially when it comes to integrating new mobility forms," explains Thomas Homrighausen, Managing Director of Cyclomedia Germany.

Bicycle lanes: significant need for improvement

In the area of bicycle infrastructure, German cities still have room for improvement. While 62% of respondents in Munich consider the bicycle lanes in their city to be safe, only slightly more than half in Frankfurt (55%) and Hamburg (52%) feel the same. In Berlin, it is just 49%, and in Cologne, 47%. German cities can look to leaders like Helsinki, where 79% perceive bicycle lanes as safe, for inspiration.

Surprisingly, the "bicycle city" Amsterdam ranks in the lower third with only 44% approval for the safety of its bicycle lanes. It is also astonishing that 81% of Amsterdam residents consider the road infrastructure for new mobility forms like e-scooters and e-bikes to be inadequate. Speaking of future readiness: the study presents a divided picture concerning the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. In Frankfurt, 56% of respondents believe there should be more charging points for electric cars, but in Berlin, only 42% support this.

Speed limits and absolute alcohol ban: broad approval

The idea of reducing the speed limit in inner cities to 30 km/h has broad support in German cities. Around 60% of respondents in Frankfurt, Cologne, and Munich support it, 55% in Hamburg, and 51% in Berlin. However, these values are lower than those of the European leaders, both of which are Spanish cities with over 70% approval: Seville and Barcelona.

There is also broad consensus in all German cities regarding an absolute alcohol ban in road traffic, with over 70% support. In Berlin, it is even 84%. Surprisingly, every tenth resident of Hamburg strictly rejects an absolute alcohol ban. In Bratislava, Slovakia, only 2% reject it, while 93% are (very) supportive.