This year alone, there are 33 fatalities on the roads in Styria, and new horror reports follow almost every day. What’s happening there? The Graz psychologist and traffic coach Dieter Krainz sees room for improvement when it comes to penalties in Austria.
“krone” Will two years of the corona pandemic also have an impact on road traffic behaviour?
Dieter Krainz: Yes. The restrictions imposed by the pandemic, of course, meant that people in general developed a higher potential for aggression. And road traffic promises that you can move freely. Many road users then find it frustrating if this promise cannot be fulfilled as they envision.
The number of accidents under the influence of alcohol is increasing again this year. Why do people stay drunk behind the wheel despite severe penalties?
People already make the decision not to drive their vehicles unless they are sober. But the alcohol makes you careless, you suddenly risk a lot more and then you think that nothing is going to happen today.
Does the problem of drinking and driving affect all social classes?
In principle yes, although it must be said that young drivers have become much more sensible compared to 20 years ago. There are still black sheep, but in the 1980s it was still normal for almost everyone to drive home drunk.
What are the most common causes of accidents?
The main cause is still mismatch and overspeed. Then carelessness, such as handling the mobile phone or the radio, comes second.
In your opinion, are the penalties in this country sufficient?
In that respect, compared to other countries, we are almost in a paradise for traffic offenders in Austria. We have tolerances that don’t exist anywhere else, such as the 0.5 per mille limit.
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.
