50 years of the 48er towing group: Less traffic jams, more safety for Vienna!

50 years of the 48er towing group: Less traffic jams, more safety for Vienna!

The 48er towing group in Vienna is celebrating half a century of successful operations to resolve traffic obstructions. Since its founding on December 2, 1974, triggered by a tragic accident in which emergency vehicles were unable to reach their destination due to improper parking, the group has removed over 1.3 million vehicles from the roads. This impressive number corresponds to a distance of six times from Vienna to Brussels wien.gv.at reported. In 1974, 484,603 vehicles were registered in Vienna, and in 2023 this figure rose to an impressive 924,460, underlining the need for towing services.

Growth in vehicle numbers and challenges

The daily challenges for the towing group have changed significantly, because in addition to cars, bicycles, scooters and shopping carts also have to be towed these days. Every year around 25,000 vehicles have to be removed due to obstructive parking, for example in loading zones or in front of entrances. “Towings are extremely important for the functioning of a city and are often life-saving,” explained Andreas Tesar, the long-time leader of this group. Technologies have also evolved. Where radio and landline telephones used to dominate, digital management systems are now used to coordinate operations quickly and effectively reported.

With the increasing number of vehicles, which is particularly high in the 22nd district, the need for parking spaces is becoming more and more urgent. The large towing area in Simmering, opened in 1994, offers space for up to 850 cars. There are currently 15 tow trucks from various companies operating in the city on behalf of the 48er. As traffic density grows, the Towing Group's service remains central to maintaining road safety and minimizing congestion affecting both buses and cars.