Goslar tests 30 km/h zones to calm traffic in Ohlhof district

Goslar is set to introduce a trial 30 km/h (20 mph) speed limit zone on two key streets in the Ohlhof district. The scheme, starting on April 9, aims to improve road safety and enhance the area's quality of life. Local residents and officials have backed the move after calls for traffic calming measures grew louder last year. The six-month trial will cover Ohlhofbreite and Kurt-Schumacher-Allee, where the default right-of-way rule will switch to rechts vor links (priority to the right). Both streets have also been removed from the city's priority road network for the duration of the test. Authorities hope to reduce average speeds to a V85 level of 36 km/h (22 mph), though no speed enforcement will be in place during the trial.

The project follows a petition signed by 238 Ohlhof residents in 2023, demanding action to calm traffic. Support has come from both the local Ohlhof neighbourhood association and the Goslar City Council. To measure the zone's effectiveness, the city will carry out regular traffic surveys and analyse statistical data. No specific accident figures for the affected streets over the past three years were available. However, the trial reflects broader concerns about road safety in the district.

The trial will run until October, with traffic surveys guiding any future decisions. If successful, the lower speed limit could become permanent. The city plans to review the data before determining next steps for the Ohlhof district.