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Enhancing Visibility at Intersections for Increased Safety

Subject is to be made aware of the following details:
Subject is to be made aware of the following details:

Informed individual will learn about the following details:

In response to a tragic incident in Warendorf, the city of Bottrop has taken precautionary measures to improve visibility at intersections and ensure the safety of its residents. A press conference held on Monday, August 25, 2025, discussed the planning and implementation of sight triangles in the city.

Steffen Jonek, Head of the Civil Engineering Department, explained that the implementation of sight triangles depends on what makes sense in each case. The city aims to enable drivers to safely turn from secondary roads onto main roads by creating these triangular areas. The size of the sight triangles depends on the permissible speed of the main road. For instance, at 30 km/h, the prescribed leg length is 30 meters, at 40 km/h it is 50 meters, and at 50 km/h it would be 70 meters.

The Civil Engineering Department of Bottrop is currently inspecting all intersections within the city to ensure sightlines are clear. In addition to the Scharnhölzstraße, the Horster Straße and Aegidistraße are the next measures to be tendered. The Scharnhölzstraße has eleven measures in the tendering process, with implementation planned for Q1 2026.

Each case must be examined individually and not treated according to a fixed pattern. Busy streets with accident hotspots are given priority over streets with low traffic volume and areas not considered accident-prone. The traffic load and accident statistics of affected streets determine the priority for sight triangle planning.

If sight triangles are not maintained according to regulations, Bottrop is obligated to take action. This can involve structural changes, bollard installation, creation of green spaces, or appropriate signage with an absolute no-parking zone. The aim is to prevent future accidents and ensure the city of Bottrop cannot be accused of inaction.

The background for these measures is an incident in Warendorf where municipal employees were charged with manslaughter due to negligence following a fatal accident caused by poor visibility. The city aims to learn from this incident and take proactive steps to enhance road safety.

Technical Deputy Mayor of Bottrop Klaus Müller, Steffen Jonek (Head of the Civil Engineering Department), Daniela Mooser, and Fabian Fingerlin (Head of the Traffic Department) were present at the press conference. According to street construction guidelines, sight triangles must be maintained, with the "Guideline for the Design of Urban Streets RaSt 06" being decisive.

The city of Bottrop is committed to the safety of its residents and visitors. By implementing sight triangles, it hopes to create a safer driving environment and reduce the risk of accidents.

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