Attention drivers: How to prevent rear-end collisions on motorways!

Attention drivers: How to prevent rear-end collisions on motorways!

The upcoming holiday traffic brings with it an increased risk of rear-end collisions on the roads. According to the ÖAMTC, 959 such accidents with personal injuries were recorded on Austrian highways last year, accounting for 45 percent of all accidents in the ASFINAG network. Tragically, these accidents claimed 13 lives Statistics Austria reported. The main causes of these rear-end collisions are insufficient following distances and misjudgments of speed, which are often exacerbated by distractions. David Nosé from the ÖAMTC emphasizes that underestimating the safety distance can have fatal consequences.

Strict measures against jostling

In order to maintain a safe distance, drivers are urgently advised to keep a distance of at least 70 meters on motorways. Compliance with this distance is rigorously monitored and the penalties for violations are draconian. If the distance is 0.2 seconds or less, you can face fines of up to 2,180 euros and, in the worst case, even a license suspension for six months. These regulations are not unimportant, because the ADAC points out that a distance that is too small can be viewed not only as a traffic violation, but also as “coercion in road traffic”. This can lead to criminal consequences, such as a fine and a driving ban ADAC explained in detail.

The police use modern technology to document violations of the safe distance. Video cameras on highway bridges monitor the distance between vehicles to detect aggressive pushing. Drivers should not only keep an eye on the legal consequences, but also ensure that they drive safely and with foresight, even in heavy traffic. The ÖAMTC recommends the “two-second rule” as a simple method for distance control to avoid accidents and reach your destination safely.