Truck accidents on Austria's streets: Alarming statistics are concerned!

Truck accidents on Austria's streets: Alarming statistics are concerned!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - Heavy traffic on Austria's highways increases rapidly: the proportion has grew by around 20 percent in the past ten years. Despite this increase, the number of truck accidents with personal damage remains relatively constant-from 1,206 accidents in 2012 to 1,274 in 2023. However, the increase in fatalities is alarming; In 2023, 65 people lost their lives in truck accidents, as many as not since 2016. Weaker road users are particularly affected, which in 94 percent of cases have fatally accidentally an accident, as the data from statistics Austria show. David Nosé, traffic technician at the ÖAMTC, emphasizes: "Trucks over 3.5 tons were only 3.6 percent of all accidents, but have a share of 16.2 percent in the fatal accidents - the responsibility of the drivers is obvious." These worrying figures illustrate the urgency of increased control and awareness of the dangers in road traffic.

causes and measures in truck accidents

ÖAMTC accident research shows that the distraction and carelessness of the vehicle drivers are particularly causes of serious accidents. Inadequate compliance with safety distances also plays a crucial role. "The operation of the navigation system or distracting conversations while driving can make the difference between an accident and avoidance," warns Nosé. Technical assistance systems such as emergency brake assistants will be mandatory for new trucks from the end of 2018 and contribute to risk reduction. These should also be actively used by the drivers. A significant improvement could also bring the improved underride protection for trucks, which has been mandatory for all new models since September 2021 and is to prevent serious injuries by driving, such as reported.

The dangers in rear -end collisions, especially at traffic jams, are often underestimated. Nosé recommends reducing speed early and switching on the warning indicator system. "To drive up too densely, fatigue or distraction are common mistakes that can have tragic consequences." Therefore, the ÖAMTC calls for increased sensitization of the handlebars and stricter controls about compliance with the steering and rest periods. These necessary measures are crucial in order to increase traffic safety as a whole and to avoid further tragic accidents, since the statistics unfortunately prove that the truck accident rate increases steadily, so ots.at