Together with Mayor Friedrich Marx, the head of the Idar-Oberstein police department, police councillor Kimberly Short, has now launched the 'Lights on! The campaign, which has already been successfully implemented in other cities in the past, aims to improve road safety and positively influence traffic behavior.
In the dark season, many road users, especially cyclists, are on the road without sufficient lighting. To counteract serious or even fatal traffic accidents and to protect vulnerable and so-called weak road users, such as cyclists or children, there is the 'Lights on! This is being carried out in Idar-Oberstein by the police department in cooperation with the city administration and the Rhineland-Palatinate road safety organization. "The safety of our citizens is our common concern," explained police chief Short. In the darker months of the year, the aim is therefore to sharpen the focus on visibility in road traffic. "I am delighted about the successful collaboration with the city of Idar-Oberstein in this important area."
For the 'Lights on!' campaign, old, unusable bicycles from the city council's lost and found office are sprayed with signal paint and placed on the side of the road throughout the city. They are intended to draw attention to the importance of lighting, especially bicycle lighting, during the dark season. In addition, increased checks are also intended to draw attention to the fact that good visibility in road traffic can prevent serious accidents and dangerous situations.
"I welcome this important campaign and we are very happy to support it on the part of the city," emphasized Mayor Friedrich Marx. The head of the public order department pointed out that cyclists are also out and about in the city every morning and evening, who are very difficult to see in the dark and are therefore often only noticed late by motorists. "With appropriate lighting, we can all help to prevent dangerous situations from arising in the first place."