© dpa
The lighting on Berlin's highways is gradually being switched off.
Freeways are by far the safest roads in Germany, "lighting has no influence on the number of accidents," said Kerstin Finis-Keck, Deputy Director of the North-East branch of Autobahn GmbH. An unlit highway is just as safe as one with lighting.
The road equipment, in particular light-reflecting markings, have been largely brought up to date in recent years, according to Autobahn GmbH. In addition, the lighting in modern cars is bright. It referred to studies by the Berlin Senate that dealt with safety-relevant aspects of the changeover. Switching off the lights would also save CO₂ and tackle light pollution, while the cost savings would also be a factor.
"Of course, we know that many Berliners have become accustomed to the lighting," said Finis-Keck. The changeover will not be easy for some. But technically there is no other choice. The switch-off should be completed by the end of April. This has already been implemented on individual sections of the A100 (from the Seestraße exit to Knobelsdorferstraße). The rest of the A100, the A114, A103 and the A111 are to follow. Tunnels and their entrances and exits are excluded. The lighting there will allow the eyes to get used to the different lighting conditions.