Democratic Innovation or Participative Eyewash? Opportunities and Limitations of Traffic Regulation Partnerships in German Municipalities

In addition to ongoing hierarchisation, the intensified implementation of policy networks and other participatory forms of democracy is shaping the transformation of local governance in Germany. The institutionalisation of cooperative steering tools is intending both an increased input-legitimacy through more citizen orientation, as well as an enhanced output-legitimacy of public administration. The paper analyses thirteen traffic regulation partnerships in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) and illustrates that these instruments of participative traffic safety policy are part of innovative focal governance, usually initiated by the local government and impartially moderated by municipal police stations. A gain in efficiency is possible when the involved partners agree on clear targets and establish competences and responsibilities.