Road accidents are the twelfth leading cause of death worldwide. According to WHO estimates, approximately 1.3 million people die each year. More than 86,000 people have died on the road in Austria since they were recorded in 1961. At the initiative of the United Nations, every third Sunday of November (this year on 20 November) World Road Traffic Victims Day is celebrated to promote greater tolerance and consideration.
In addition to the 1.3 million deaths per year, another 50 million are injured in road accidents worldwide. They are also the leading cause of death in children and adolescents. The traffic situation in poorer areas is significantly worse than here: nine out of ten victims live in middle and low-income countries. Several conventions and the United Nations Road Safety Fund are designed to help these countries strengthen their national systems and infrastructure, the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) said in a press release marking the memorial day.
Stricter laws lead to fewer casualties
Although the number of registered cars in Austria has risen from nearly 400,000 to nearly 5.1 million since 1960, the number of road fatalities has fallen by 85 percent since 1975, according to Statistics Austria. The main reasons for this, according to the mobility club ÖAMTC, are stricter laws, the expansion of transport infrastructure, a more efficient rescue chain, improved emergency care and technical developments. Airbags and active driving safety systems such as ABS or ESP have long been standard equipment. From 2024, all newly registered passenger cars must also be equipped with a number of other driver assistance systems, such as emergency brake assist, drowsiness warning systems and lane departure warning systems.
The number of cyclists involved in accidents is increasing
While these technological advances keep motorists safe, they are not available to vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Since 2010, the number of deaths in cycling accidents has increased by 56 percent. The pandemic has reinforced the trend. “It is therefore important to continue creating safe cycling infrastructure and raising awareness of helmet wearing and e-bike handling training,” said ÖAMTC traffic engineer David Nosé. But in the end it is also the responsibility of each individual road user to contribute to safe roads by being considerate and considerate.
StVO innovation is in the room
The Road Safety Supervisory Board (KFV) is currently considering whether it is time to renew the Road Traffic Act (StVO). The collection of laws from 1960 still governs traffic today, but has changed a lot over the past 60 years. The number of bicycles, including e-bikes and cargo bikes, has increased enormously and e-scooters can no longer be ignored in traffic. Given the major change, the KFV now sees the time to ask the question to what extent the model of the 1960s is in line with our current forms of mobility. Klaus Robatsch, Head of Road Safety Research at KFV, calls for a fundamental review of the principles of the Road Traffic Act to ensure road safety for unprotected road users and users of new forms of mobility.
From 2010 to 2021, the number of road fatalities in Austria has also decreased. However, there are clear differences when comparing the federal states. Niederösterreich, still the unrivaled leader in 2010 with 163 accident victims, tied with Upper Austria last year with 92 fatal accidents. The decline was less pronounced in Styria (79 to 50), Upper Austria (117 to 92) and Salzburg (41 to 24). In Vienna (29 to 16), Burgenland (20 to 8), Tyrol (39 to 29) and Vorarlberg (22 to 13) the declines were less strong, but already at a low level. In Carinthia alone, the number of road deaths hardly changed, from 42 in 2010 to 38 last year.
On the occasion of World Day of Remembrance, the United Nations called on all member states to join forces to make the streets safer. The goal is to halve the number of road deaths and injuries worldwide by 2030.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
