New campaign: Safe tunnels - traffic light vision saves lives!

New campaign: Safe tunnels - traffic light vision saves lives!

Road safety remains a key issue, especially when it comes to motorway tunnels. A new campaign from ASFINAG entitled “Before the tunnel: look at the traffic lights please!” aims to raise awareness among drivers. Drivers often miss red lights and drive into closed tunnels, which not only endangers their safety but also that of other road users. According to a survey by the Road Safety Board, the causes lie in inattention, distraction and sometimes even conscious disregard for traffic signs. This issue will be discussed in the press conference for the campaign on June 2, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the ASFINAG headquarters in Vienna. If the weather is nice, the conference will take place in the rest area next to the Austro Tower, and if the weather is bad, it will take place in the press room of the building.https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20250601_OTS0018/erinnerung-einladen-anlaesslich-des-starts-der-neuen-asfinag-tunnelsicherheitsaktion

Another aspect of traffic safety in tunnels is the importance of height controls. These are necessary to avoid damage to the tunnel structures and to ensure traffic safety. There are over 400 tunnels in Germany that are equipped with automatic height measuring systems. Vehicles higher than 4.40 meters are not allowed to enter the tunnel, which can lead to traffic disruptions if ignored or misunderstood. For example, the height control in front of the Elbe Tunnel is activated up to 150 times a year, which can cause significant traffic jams.https://www.adac.de/verkehr/verkehrssicherheit/unterwegs/hoehenkontrolle-tunnel/

Road safety and research

Efforts to improve traffic safety are also incorporated into research. The road safety program 2021-2030, under the motto “Vision Zero”, has the goal of not allowing any deaths or serious injuries in road traffic. This involves financial resources to support projects dedicated to digital security in the transport system. The Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt) also plays a central role by carrying out numerous research projects on traffic safety every year and publishing the corresponding results. These findings are crucial for continued improvement of infrastructure and road safety.https://www.mobilitaetsforum.bund.de/DE/Themen/Verkehrssicherheit/forschung/forschung_node.html

In summary, it can be said that measures such as the ASFINAG campaign and the technical safety precautions in tunnels represent an important part of reducing accidents and increasing road safety. By increasing the sensitivity of drivers and through timely information technology measures, serious traffic accidents should be prevented in the future.