Munich — Following a fatal car crash at the intersection of Kreillerstraße and St.-Veit-Straße, the Munich Police Department is investigating the feasibility of installing a combined red-light and speed enforcement camera system. According to a police spokesperson, the comprehensive evaluation process is expected to take several months.
The assessment will go beyond the recent tragedy, incorporating long-term accident statistics, frequency of traffic violations, and technical feasibility studies.
Fatal Incident Highlights Safety Concerns
In mid-November 2025, a four-year-old child was killed when a 60-year-old driver allegedly ran a red light at high speed, broadsiding a turning vehicle. While the primary cause was identified as human error, local residents and the victim’s parents have since reported numerous “near-miss” situations at the same location.
The Berg am Laim district committee has put forward several demands to prevent future tragedies:
- Installation of stationary traffic cameras.
- Implementation of a 30 km/h speed limit in the intersection area.
- Improved protection for the nearby tram stop.
Legal and Financial Roadblocks
During a site visit with police and the Department of Mobility, local politicians were informed that a 30 km/h limit is currently legally impossible. Because Kreillerstraße is a federal highway (Bundesstraße), strict federal regulations govern speed limits, making a reduction to 30 km/h difficult to justify without a demonstrated, continuous high-risk profile.
Manuel Pretzl (Green Party) argued that even a slightly reduced speed could have saved a life: “If a 30 km/h limit were in place, the perpetrator might have entered the intersection at 40 km/h instead. The braking distance would have been shorter, and the survival chances significantly higher.”
Cost is another major factor. The estimated price for a single stationary enforcement system is approximately 440,000 euros. While some local politicians labeled this figure as “unrealistic” for the city’s budget, the police clarified that such equipment is typically funded by the state’s central police administrative office in Straubing, as traffic control falls under their jurisdiction.
Appeal to the Lord Mayor
The district committee has formally requested Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter to intervene and expedite safety improvements. Proposed immediate actions include:
- Optimizing traffic light phases.
- Moving up the scheduled reconstruction of the intersection, which was originally planned for several years in the future.
Source: tz
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