A boy and a man were recently killed in a tram accident in Graz – now the question of guilt is being addressed. Holding supports drivers in processing the tragedies.
Two fatal tram accidents in Graz within a few weeks: on August 7, a seven-year-old boy was run over by a Bim at the Steyrergasse stop, he died a few days later in the LKH – and on September 3, a 37-year-old fell on the central square. A departing train on line 5 came under the wheels and died on the spot.
Multiple accidents per month
Of course, questions of guilt quickly arise after such tragic accidents. “Our trams are involved in accidents several times a month and fortunately in most cases nothing serious happens. The reason is almost always the behavior of other road users,” emphasizes Gerald Zaczek-Pichler, group spokesman for Holding Graz.
Holding works council member Manuel Lenartitsch can also confirm this: “Unfortunately, people are increasingly distracted by mobile phones or headphones – and there is generally an increased degree of recklessness in road traffic.” But that is not a good idea, especially not on the tram. “Once the Bim starts moving, the driver has no chance of stopping in time,” says Lenartitsch, himself a trained bus driver.
Render harmless via new route
The entire city centre is a high-security zone for Graz’s 259 tram drivers (71 women). On Murgasse and Jakominiplatz, a speed limit of 15 km/h applies. With the commissioning of the emergency route on Neutorgasse, it is hoped that the potential danger will be reduced to a minimum in the future. “The new Alstom trams also have a camera-based assistance system,” Zaczek-Pichler explains.
The training for Bim drivers takes one and a half to two months – plus continuous training. There are even weekly driving safety trainings for bus firefighters.
Source: Krone
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