Traffic accidents in Vienna: 17 deaths since the beginning of the year - measures required!

Traffic accidents in Vienna: 17 deaths since the beginning of the year - measures required!

In the city of Vienna, a worrying situation has developed since the beginning of 2024: there have already been 17 traffic fatalities, which is a drastic increase in five deaths compared to the entire previous year. These numbers are alarming, especially if you consider the statistics that have passed over 25 years back, which show almost 700 traffic fatalities in the capital. This has launched the mobility organization VCÖ to request increased measures to improve traffic safety.

The increase in the traffic dead clearly shows that it is urgently necessary to take measures to increase safety on the streets. The VCÖ emphasizes that the introduction and enforcement of stricter traffic safety measures can help reduce the number of serious accidents and to save human life.

The role of speed limits

A decisive factor for the number and severity of traffic accidents is the speed. The VCÖ therefore recommends that, especially in residential areas and on streets, which are often frequented by pedestrians or people in need, such as children and the elderly, speed limits of 30 km/h instead of 50 km/h. This would be an effective measure for traffic calming.

Another important aspect is the distraction when driving. In many European countries, using a cell phone at the wheel is considered a criminal act, while this is still not the case in Austria. Studies show that driving with a cell phone on the ear almost reaches the reaction times of an alcoholic driver with 0.8 per thousand and the risk of accidents increases fifteen times. Reading or writing messages during the trip even increases the risk of more than twenty times. The VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky underpins this information.

improvement of the wheel infrastructure

In addition to the speed limits, a secure cycling infrastructure is also of great importance. The VCÖ emphasizes that public transport, which is significantly more secure than individual car traffic, also has a significant impact on traffic statistics. The development and improvement of the offer of public transport is therefore crucial to increase general traffic safety.

The successes of the past few years show the need for these measures: While 60 people died in road traffic in 1999, the number was 80 percent lower with only twelve traffic victims in 2023. This development shows that proactive traffic safety measures can bear successful fruits.

The urgency of requested measures to improve traffic safety has long been obvious. In a dynamic and growing urban environment like Vienna, it is essential to continue to discuss innovative solutions and proven practices in order to ensure security for all road users. For further information there is a report on www.meinbezirk.at Appointment.