Light out on the A100: Berlin now drives in the dark at night!

Light out on the A100: Berlin now drives in the dark at night!

Berlin is facing a dark turn: From April 2025, the lighting on the A100, one of the central city highways, will be gradually switched off. Many drivers were already surprised on Thursday evening, January 9, when they drove into the dark on the section between the Rudolf-Wissell Bridge and Rathenauplatz. This measure, as the deputy director of Autobahn GmbH, Kerstin Finis-Keck, confirmed, is only the beginning. By the end of April, almost all lighting systems along the A100, the A114, A103 and A111 are to be switched off, with the exception of the tunnels and the corresponding entrances and exits. While the announcement takes some getting used to, Autobahn GmbH relies on security studies that prove that an unlit motorway is as safe as a illumination.

less light, less cost

According to Autobahn GmbH, this step is not only to save energy costs, but also the goal of reducing light pollution and reducing CO2 emissions. With the progressive technology of modern vehicles and the recently optimized, light-reflecting road markings, the need for street lighting has become questionable, according to Finis-Keck. The decision was also made to relieve the city's wallet - after all, tax funds flow into the maintenance of the lighting that can now be omitted.

The changeover could be a challenge for many Berliners because they are used to the nightly lighting. "Of course we know that many have got used to the lighting," admits Finis-Keck. But the practical advantages are obvious. With the darkness on the A100 and other motorways, which will soon be onset, Autobahn GmbH also hopes to rethink the road users. It is particularly important that security is not endangered, as the statements of those responsible indicate.

Berlin Live