There are more and more speed offenders on Austrian roads: in 2023, the traffic police reported or punished more than six million speeding violations and carried out almost 1.9 million alcohol tests. Officers are increasingly catching drivers under the influence of drugs and complaining about the lack of child safety locks in the car.
About 5.3 million of the 6,160,271 speeding violations last year were detected by radar equipment. Another 580,000 drivers were tested with laser measuring equipment. About 270,000 women and men were arrested by civilian patrols, section control systems or other forms of surveillance. According to the Ministry of the Interior, this represents a new annual record and an increase of 0.6 percent compared to the previous year. In 2022, 6,120,825 violations were detected.
Cars can be taken away from speeders
With the 34th amendment to the Road Traffic Act (StVO), the cars of extreme speed offenders can be seized on the spot from March 1 and then auctioned. The package of measures from the Ministry of Transport and Climate is aimed at serious violations and speed violations of more than 60 km/h in the city and 70 km/h outside the city.
Drinking and driving: increase of 7.2 percent
Last year, a total of 1,895,748 alcohol checks were carried out by the federal police, including breath tests, alcohol tests and medical examinations. An increase of 7.2 percent was also recorded in this area (2022: 1,768,730). However, the number of reports of driving under the influence fell from 32,875 in 2022 to 30,683 in the previous year. That is a minus of 6.7 percent.
In addition, 8,676 drivers were reported last year for driving under the influence of drugs. This corresponds to a further increase of 15.7 percent. In 2022 there were 7,499.
A drastic increase in complaints about a lack of child safety was reported: 7,979 reports, which also resulted in an entry in the reservation system, is 13.8 percent more than in 2022. The figures show that awareness among motorists is necessary.
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.
