Overview

• Niedersachsen issued guidance in April that gives municipalities a clear legal path to set up temporary traffic-free zones at school gates.
• Lüneburg will launch a pilot after the autumn break that closes the street by a primary school in the morning and afternoon, with the city reporting broad openness among parents despite some concerns.
• Laatzen tested an Elternhaltestelle on September 19 placed one street from the school, erected signage with pupils, and drew on European Mobility Week materials to foster child independence.
• Braunschweig turned a post‑Easter pilot into a permanent morning closure after positive feedback, and police conduct regular checks to enforce the restriction.
• Across Germany the picture is mixed, with about 50 school streets already operating in North Rhine-Westphalia, an enabling decree in Baden‑Württemberg, resistance in Bavaria citing the federal StVO, advocacy groups calling for limits, Munich planning pilots in 2026, and surveys showing many children are driven and report hazardous drop-off scenes.