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From expert panel to law: The impact of the Goslar 2026 Traffic Court Conference

What sounds like a heated expert discussion today may become law tomorrow. From 26 to 28 January, lawyers, judges, researchers and traffic experts met to discuss issues in traffic law. The discussions covered not just theory, but also specific rules and measures concerning everyday traffic in Germany. Topics ranged from mobile phones while driving to alcohol limits and driver's licences. The German Traffic Court Conference is where transport policy begins.

Previous embossment of the conference

The measures that have already been taken originated at the German Traffic Court Conference. Looking back, the most notable reforms are the penalty point system, the medical-psychological examination (MPU) threshold of 1.1 per mille, accompanied driving at 17, and the THC limit following the partial legalisation of cannabis — all issues that have been discussed in Goslar in the past.

Response to new traffic risks

Now, new traffic risks must be considered:

1. Illegal trading of penalty points
This problem emerged in 2024, and the Traffic Court Conference has already called for countermeasures. Illegal trading in penalty points occurs when a third person falsely states that he drove in a case involving traffic offences with penalty points. This third person is liable for the fine, which is payable on demand. The federal government plans to impose high fines of up to €30,000 on providers and users who facilitate these practices, closing a grey area that now requires more stringent control.

2. Challenges posed by e-mobility
According to a study by the Björn Steiger Foundation (2025), rather than introducing a helmet requirement for e-scooters, a driving licence should be required. The reason for this is that the accident risk for e-scooters and bicycles is the same. Nevertheless, the helmet requirement remains controversial, according to the study. As a result, a helmet requirement and a 0.5 per mille blood alcohol limit for e-scooters will be introduced in May 2026.

3. The traffic regulations of the future
Traffic law issues that remain unresolved:
• Reduction of absolute inability to drive from 1.6 per mille to 1.1 per mille
• Driver training and examination law
• Technology: Use of drones in airspace and use of mobile speed cameras

Goslar is not just a place for debates. It is also where the rules that will make Germany’s roads safer tomorrow are being discussed and may be developed later.

 

Link to the study: https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/panorama/e-scooter-unfallstudie-regeln-radgroesse-fuehrerschein-helmpflicht-100.html

Source: AI-generated