E-scooter accident in Völkermarkt: drunkenness leads to severe falls!
E-scooter accident in Völkermarkt: drunkenness leads to severe falls!
On Friday, June 20, 2025, a serious accident occurred on the Drau cycle path around 3:30 p.m. when a 49-year-old man from the Völkermarkt district drove his e-scooter from Kühnsdorf towards Völkermarkt. The man came off the bike path and overturned with his e-scooter. Despite the quick help of three German cyclists who provided first aid and alerted the rescue workers, the man suffered a short -term loss of consciousness and suffered injuries of an indefinite degree. He was brought to the University Hospital Holtzdorf after he refused to alcohol, which, however, suggested a severe alcoholization, according to Klick Kärnten.
The increase in e-scooter use in Austria goes hand in hand with an alarming increase in the number of accidents. According to [KFV] (https://www.kfv.at/alarmierendendendendes-dynamik-bei-e-e-scooter- und-an- and-an--and-afuenffachung-der-wehrten/), the number of e-scooter injuries treated in the hospital has been punished from 1,200 to 6,000 in 2023 in 2023. The alcoholization is particularly dangerous; 12% of the incorrect e-scooter steering ends were alcoholic at the time of the accident, while only 4% were in car accidents and 3% in motorcycle accidents.
alcoholization and accidents
The average blood alcohol value among the alcoholic e-scooter drivers is over 1.0 per thousand, with 28% even showing values over 2.0 per thousand. This clearly exceeds the statutory alcohol limit for e-scooters and bicycles of 0.8 per thousand. The penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are correspondingly high: they range from 800 to 3,700 euros from 0.8 per thousand, up to 5,900 euros from 1.6 per thousand. These high numbers give rise to concern, especially because 77% of e-scooter accidents are considered self-inflicted.
In the first nine months of the previous year, 1,245 people were already injured or killed while driving with e-scooters. The helmet trage quota in Austria is extremely low at around 9%, although a helmet obligation is required for all e-scooter drivers from the KFV. At the moment it is only intended for children under the age of 12. In addition, a throttling of the e-scooter speed at 20 km/h and the introduction of a second brake is required to increase the safety of the driver.
safety tips for e-scooter drivers
In order to minimize accident risks, e-scooter drivers should note a few important safety tips: wearing a helmet, considerate driving style, strict observance of the traffic rules and driving in a sober condition are crucial. In addition, attention should be paid to your own visibility in order to avoid accidents.
In view of the worrying accident statistics and increasing use of e-scooters, the KFV requires further measures to improve traffic safety. Experts warn of a fatal mix of alcohol consumption and e-scooter driving, which not only endangered the drivers themselves, but also other road users.Further information on this topic can also be found on the pages of ORF Vienna.
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| Ort | Völkermarkt, Österreich |
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