The 33rd amendment to the Road Traffic Act (StVO) is intended to make cycling and walking safer and more attractive. However, the ÖAMTC believes that these objectives have been achieved only to a limited extent. The city of Vienna also criticized the new rules, such as turning right on red, a longer distance when overtaking cyclists or more pedestrian-friendly traffic lights.
The regulation does not address “the main reasons for bicycle accidents”, some points need to be tightened, it said at a press conference of the Vienna traffic club. “Red is a stop ban, it’s a strong learned signal in traffic, especially for children and it should stay that way,” said AMTC expert Martin Hoffer, who was skeptical about relaxing the regulations.
“Possibly, or yes, if you’ve looked” is confusing, especially for younger road users, and a potential source of danger. At intersections with many bicycles, however, it is certainly conceivable to install your own lane signaling and traffic lights. “The authorities can then decide on a case-by-case basis how long cycling can remain green,” says Hoffer.
One-way streets: good signage required
The expert also wanted a case-by-case assessment of the proposed area-wide permit to cycle against the one-way route. “Allowing automatically that certain boundary conditions do not fit on paper is not a good idea, the government should be able to check all one-way streets for safety,” says Hoffer. Good signage is especially important, otherwise there is a risk of encountering cyclists going the other way “where you don’t expect them”.
In the new regulation of the transverse distance when overtaking, further tightening is required: 1.50 meters in built-up areas now apply and two meters outside, “previously, the regulations in this regard were situation-specific and more practical”. And the amendment to the law regarding side-by-side driving must also be reviewed. “Because the new rules are complicated, general side-by-side driving can result. However, the road should be used for locomotion, not communication,” said ÖAMTC representative Bernhard Wiesinger.
In general, it should be noted that the new StVO amendment only addresses just under seven percent of accidents, but that, according to the ÖAMTC, a comprehensive package of measures is needed that goes beyond the legal requirements. The experts completely miss the sharp increase in accidents involving e-bikes.
Criticism from Vienna: “2400 trees should be felled”
The new StVO also came under criticism from the federal capital. The change is “not feasible for a city of more than a million inhabitants like Vienna”. Its implementation would also come with “terrible costs” – more than 130 million euros would be owed, the city calculates. In the general implementation, road safety would also be left out in some areas.
For example, all one-way lanes where it is practical for cyclists to drive against the one-way lane have already been approved. Another point of criticism is the incompatibility of the amendment with the nature and climate protection interests of the city of Vienna: “This would require felling 2400 trees”, according to the office of the responsible councilor Ulli Sima.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
