verkehrsberuhigte

Verkehrsberuhigte is a German adjective used to describe streets, zones, or areas that are designed to reduce traffic speed and volume in order to improve safety and livability. The term is commonly applied to verkehrsberuhigte Bereiche (traffic‑calmed areas) and Spielstraßen (play streets), where the presence of pedestrians and slower speeds is prioritized. In Germany, these areas are regulated within the Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO).

In verkehrsberuhigten Bereichen pedestrians generally have priority, and vehicles must move at walking pace. There is no rigid general speed limit that applies everywhere in the zone; instead, driver behavior is governed by the principle of cautious, low-speed driving and by localized rules. The design often encourages mixed use by pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized traffic in a shared space. The zones are usually marked by specific traffic signs, and the sign indicating the end of the area signals a return to normal traffic rules.

Common measures used to achieve traffic calming include street narrowing, curb extensions, speed humps or bumps, raised crosswalks, chicanes, textured pavements, and traffi c islands. These features aim to visually and physically slow traffic, create a sense of enclosure, and enhance pedestrian safety.

Applications of verkehrsberuhigte Bereiche aim to improve local livability, reduce noise and emissions, and foster community interaction in residential and mixed-use neighborhoods. They differ from Tempo 30 zones, which impose a fixed speed limit, by focusing on walking-speed driving and shared space principles.