Traffic light view campaign: One in seven ignores red lights in front of tunnels!

Traffic light view campaign: One in seven ignores red lights in front of tunnels!

An alarming survey by the Road Safety Board (KfV) shows that many drivers ignore red lights in front of motorway tunnels. According to the survey, which included over 1,000 respondents, 20% of participants observed other road users entering a tunnel despite the red light. What is worrying is that 7% of those surveyed stated that they had driven into a closed tunnel even when the light was red. To counteract this dangerous tendency, ASFINAG has launched the “Ampelblick” safety campaign, which aims to increase awareness of the importance of traffic lights and promote correct behavior at tunnel entrances, reports 5min.at.

The most common reasons for running through red tunnel lights are varied. 30% of respondents admitted that they had seen other drivers doing this. A further 26% said they did not see or overlooked the traffic light, while 26% also underestimated the importance of the tunnel traffic light. 22% of drivers felt under pressure or were unsure about their decision, and 16% did not think entering the tunnel was dangerous.

Investments in tunnel safety

ASFINAG has launched a comprehensive tunnel security offensive since 2004 and has already invested around six billion euros in the security of 170 tunnels. Around 400 million euros go into improving tunnel safety every year. These measures include the full expansion with two tunnel tubes, technical modernizations and the introduction of modern safety systems such as acoustic tunnel monitoring (AKUT). Hartwig Hufnagl, board member of ASFINAG, emphasizes that road safety is teamwork and that technology and behavior must work together to prevent accidents, according to asfinag.at.

Particular attention is paid to traffic accident statistics, which serve as a basis for legislative and traffic education measures. Comprehensive data on traffic accidents is collected annually, which is important for the development of strategies in transport policy and infrastructure. The collection of this data not only supports the understanding of the accident events, but also the identification of the most common causes of accidents, as documented by destatis.de.

The “Traffic Light View” campaign

The ongoing “Traffic Light View” campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of traffic lights in front of tunnel entrances. These traffic lights not only warn of accidents or fires, but are part of a comprehensive security system that also includes, for example, video cameras and carbon monoxide sensors. Despite ongoing safety efforts - last year there were 130 personal injury accidents in ASFINAG tunnels, including nine fires - educating and raising awareness among drivers remains a key element in preventing future incidents.

With a clear focus on safety and prevention, ASFINAG hopes to not only reduce the number of red light violations through the “Traffic Light View” campaign, but also to significantly improve general traffic safety on motorways.