Vienna records alarming increase in road dead 2024!

Vienna records alarming increase in road dead 2024!

Road safety in Vienna is faltering: In 2024, 20 people have already died in traffic accidents in the capital - an increase compared to 13 fatalities in the previous year. This worrying development contrasts with the general decline in the racing dead in Austria, as current reports show. Most fatal accidents were registered in the Danube city, especially in the districts of favorites and country roads. The Verkehrsclub Austria (VCÖ) now calls for urgent measures to improve traffic safety, including more strict tempo limits and measures against distraction at the wheel, especially through mobile phone use. A clear message from VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky: "Defense by cell phone at the wheel increases the risk of accidents".

Vienna scores despite challenges

Vienna remains exemplary in traffic safety compared to other federal states. 80 percent fewer people have been killed in road traffic per 100,000 inhabitants in the past three years than in the average of Austria, as the VCÖ analysis shows. The decline is mainly due to the mobility behavior of the Viennese: Around two thirds of the paths are covered on foot or by public transport - a crucial safety factor. Nevertheless, it turns out that the number of traffic fatalities in the city has increased in recent years; For example, 18 people in 2022 lost their lives through traffic accidents, mainly pedestrians.

In order to reverse this trend, the VCÖ emphasizes the need for additional security measures. These include increased traffic calming in the districts, the creation of wider sidewalks and the improvement of the cycling infrastructure. Experts warn that each individual traffic victims are too much and push for a zero tolerance goal for fatalities. The infrastructure must be adapted to the needs of all road users to increase security. "Older people and pedestrians in particular have to be better protected," said the clear claim of the VCÖ experts.

For detailed analyzes and current data on traffic safety in Vienna, visit ORF Vienna and VCÖ .