More Traffic Fatalities Again: VCÖ Advocates for Stricter Rules
The number of traffic fatalities has increased significantly this year compared to the first three quarters of 2024, reported the mobility organization VCÖ on Wednesday. Since the beginning of the year, 303 people have died in road traffic accidents, 22 more than in the same period last year. According to the information, Lower Austria recorded the most victims with 85, while Vienna and Vorarlberg had the fewest with eleven each.
"This means that more people have already died in traffic accidents in Austria this year than in Switzerland in the entire previous year," said VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky. In Switzerland, a total of 250 people died in road traffic in 2024, 53 fewer than in Austria in the first nine months of this year.
Switzerland as a Model for Speed Limits
"Switzerland has lower speed limits with 80 km/h on rural roads and 120 km/h on highways. The tolerance for exceeding speed limits is lower and the penalties are higher. Switzerland also benefits in terms of road safety from the fact that a lot of travel is done by train, which is many times safer than by car," explained Jaschinsky.
In the first half of 2025, 58 percent of traffic fatalities in Austria were due to distraction or inappropriate speed. Among the fatally injured car occupants, even three-quarters of the deaths were due to distraction and excessive speed.
"Mobile Phone at the Wheel" Should Be an Offense in the Points System
Therefore, on rural roads in Austria, 80 km/h should also be the rule and 100 km/h the exception that needs justification. Additionally, "mobile phone at the wheel" should be an offense in the points system.
Almost 40 percent of traffic fatalities were car occupants, a quarter were motorcyclists and moped riders. Every ninth traffic fatality this year was a pedestrian, the third largest victim group.
According to Austria's road safety target, the number of deaths should be reduced to less than 207 by 2030, reminded the VCÖ. Last year, 351 traffic fatalities were recorded.
(APA/Red)
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