Vienna Nearly at the Bottom for Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

In the 2025 motorcycle season, up to and including November 10, 77 motorcyclists and passengers have died in traffic accidents in Austria. This keeps the number of fatal motorcycle accidents similarly high as the previous year (82 deaths). According to the ÖAMTC, motorcyclists and passengers now account for a quarter (25 percent) of all traffic fatalities. The average age of the victims is 46 years, nine out of ten are men.

Three fatal motorcycle accidents in Vienna

The most fatal accidents occurred in Lower Austria (20), followed by Styria (15), Carinthia (13), Tyrol (10), Upper Austria (9), Salzburg (4), as well as Vorarlberg and Vienna (3 each). No fatal motorcycle accidents were recorded in Burgenland.

The analysis of the accidents shows that the number of motorcycle accidents at intersections has decreased by about a fifth over the past two decades. In contrast, the number of single-vehicle accidents and those in the same direction of traffic - such as during overtaking - has increased by more than 50 percent each. According to the ÖAMTC, 88 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents were caused by the riders themselves. Single-vehicle accidents (40 percent) and accidents in oncoming traffic (27 percent) are particularly common. ÖAMTC expert Robert Kolerovic cites misjudgments of one's own driving skills, excessive risk-taking, and inappropriate speed as the main causes. Returnees and bikers with little routine are particularly at risk.

83 motorcyclists killed last year

In the long term, the absolute number of motorcyclists killed is slightly declining - the highest annual figure was 112 deaths in 2000; in 2024 there were 83 fatalities - however, their share of all traffic fatalities has risen from seven percent (1995) to almost 25 percent. While the number of traffic fatalities in other forms of mobility is decreasing, it remains stagnant in the motorcycle sector. According to the ÖAMTC, technical developments can only contribute to safety to a limited extent, as motorcyclists do not have a protective body like a car. Therefore, the club emphasizes the necessity of awareness-raising, driver safety training, monitoring, and a modern and forgiving infrastructure to increase safety for motorcyclists. The ÖAMTC also recommends regular driving technique training to master emergency maneuvers and improve one's reaction capability.

(APA/Red)

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