Research: The safety of protected Intersections and their use case for Germany (2021-2024) Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) 

Municipalities in Germany recognize the need to improve their intersection design to increase safety. In recent years, interest into Dutch-style protected intersections has grown. However, a lack of scientific evidence of their safety benefits in the German context and perceived impact on traffic efficiency has discouraged widespread implementation. Mobycon, in cooperation with the Technical University of Dresden, studied both objective and subjective safety of Dutch-style intersections in Germany and their impacts on behavior and comfort of cyclists and pedestrians. 

Protected intersections in the Netherlands and intersections including some features of such intersections in Germany were compared using cameras and conflict analysis software as well as qualitative interviews with road users. In 2023, Mobycon facilitated a workshop in Frankfurt alongside Germany’s National Cycling Congress (NRVK) to discuss the findings and use cases for protected intersections in Germany with a group of about 30 stakeholders. 

The objective of the research project is to identify the most relevant design characteristics of protected intersections and to understand their impact on traffic safety, perceived safety and behavior compared to conventional German design. The project will conclude in 2024 with recommendations on the design of protected intersections for Germany’s national design guidelines for cycling infrastructure.