Hesse's state police began this year's "Speedweek" campaign on Monday, stepping up speed checks across the state through Sunday, August 9. The checks are concentrated on roads with high accident rates and near schools, hospitals and construction sites.
Unlike previous Speedweek campaigns, police are not announcing this time where or when the checks will take place. Officials said the goal of the action week is to sharpen awareness of speed limits, noting that excessive speed is among the most common causes of accidents and the leading cause of fatal traffic crashes.
Poseck cites road safety goals
Interior Minister Roman Poseck, of the Christian Democratic Union, said the increased checks aim to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding, penalize violations consistently, and protect lives. He said the goal is for all road users to observe speed limits and drive with greater consideration and responsibility, adding that Speedweek is meant to encourage responsible driving.
ADAC backs the checks
The German motoring association ADAC also said the checks contribute to greater safety by making drivers aware of the dangers of excessive speed. Ulrich Chiellino, head of ADAC traffic policy, said speed must be adapted to the surroundings, and that a speed limit should be understood as a limit rather than a recommendation.
Last year's violation numbers
During last year's Speedweek, Hessian police recorded about 25,775 violations out of 813,009 vehicles measured, a violation rate of 3.17 percent. More than a thousand police officers were deployed for the action in Hesse alone.
