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Berlin's Traffic Light System Struggles in 2025 With Nearly 3,000 Failures

Outdated tech and weather damage cause Berlin's traffic lights to fail nearly 3,000 times in 2025. The city is taking action to upgrade its aging system.

In this picture we can see few traffic lights, poles and buildings.
In this picture we can see few traffic lights, poles and buildings.

Nearly 3,000 traffic light failures in Berlin this year alone - Berlin's Traffic Light System Struggles in 2025 With Nearly 3,000 Failures

Berlin's traffic light system has been facing significant challenges in 2025, with nearly 3,000 failures recorded. The Senate Department for Environment, Transport, Climate Protection and Energy, responsible for maintenance, is addressing these issues, which are exacerbated by outdated technology and weather damage.

The city's traffic light infrastructure is aging. 85 control devices are 25 years old or older, and another 1,085 are up to 15 years old. This outdated technology, along with old wiring, contributes to frequent failures. On average, each traffic light in Berlin fails about 2.5 times per year.

In 2024, the city experienced 3,166 outages. This number has risen to nearly 3,000 in 2025. Weather-related damage and third-party interference, such as accidents and vandalism, also play a significant role in these failures.

The Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr, Klimaschutz und Umwelt is working to upgrade and maintain the city's traffic light system. They aim to reduce failures and ensure safety for Berlin's residents and visitors. The high number of outages in 2025 underscores the need for continued investment and vigilance in traffic light maintenance.

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