In order to provide clarity about what needs to be taken into account at carnival events on public streets, there are now guidelines – and slimmer guidelines.
Support for volunteers and authorities
The guide (PDF) is a result of the state government’s carnival round table, in which the state, municipalities and associations are represented. The traffic law approval of traditional events was one topic among many. “The new signpost helps clubs and authorities so that everything runs smoothly. With the signpost we show who has to take care of what and when, and in the process we have made a lot of things easier,” emphasized State Secretary Elke Zimmer.
Every year, volunteers in Baden-Württemberg get involved and organize colorful carnival events. There is a lot to consider, especially when things get busy on public streets and squares. The Federal road traffic law imposes requirements that the authorities and organizers cannot ignore. The guide, which was created by the Ministry of Transport with the participation of the regional municipal associations, serves as a practical guide.
“Our goal is to promote the carnival tradition and at the same time make planning easier for the clubs,” explained Zimmer. The guide significantly reduces the effort for small events with fewer than 500 participants.
Uniform standards and multi-year approvals
State Secretary Elke Zimmer emphasizes: “The guide is a help for carnival organizers and the licensing authorities. We are providing the authorities with uniform standards and opening a process for multi-year approval for small traditional events.” This relieves the burden on the clubs and reduces the bureaucratic effort. In addition, carnival clubs are exempt from the costs of setting up traffic signs at smaller events that do not require a permit.
Practical procedures for more safety
When creating it, the Ministry of Transport incorporated best practices from practice. “Simple and lean processes that have proven themselves are now the benchmark,” Zimmer continued. This would allow applications to be processed more quickly and less bureaucratically. “We hope that as many carnival organizers as possible will benefit from this guide,” said Zimmer. The Ministry of Transport does not consider the process to be complete. “After the season, we’ll see what works and what improvements are still possible in the coming year,” said State Secretary Zimmer.
Key points
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New guidelines support carnival organizers and authorities
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Simplified rules for small events and multi-year permits
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Exemption from costs for traffic signs at events without a permit
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Practical procedures reduce bureaucracy
Signposts for carnival events on public roads – simplification of traffic permits (PDF)
