These are sad numbers for the federal state of Upper Austria that the Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) published over the weekend. In 2021, 91 people died on the streets of Upper Austria. In 2020 there were 67. In no other federal state has this number increased as sharply as in Upper Austria. Across Austria, 359 people died on the streets last year, 15 fatalities less than in 2020 and is the second lowest number since records began in 1950.
For road safety in Upper Austria, the year 2021 was a “very sad one”, says VCÖ spokesman Christian Gratzer. The traffic club calls for more safety on the roads at 80 km / h instead of 100 on open-air roads and refers to other EU member states. In 22 of the 27 EU countries there is a speed limit of 90, 80 or 70 km / h.
In addition, an improved range of bus and train connections is necessary. According to a VCÖ analysis, “the risk of fatal accidents in the past three years with a car was 15 times higher than with a bus and 78 times higher than with the train People are avoided “, so the VCÖ.
Lots of cycling accidents
The number of fatal accidents involving a bicycle or e-bike has increased. According to the VCÖ, every third fatal cycling accident in Austria occurred in Upper Austria. “The number of cyclists has risen sharply in recent years, but the expansion of the often inadequate cycling infrastructure is only progressing slowly. A modern infrastructure for cycling is needed quickly in the regions, cities and communities,” says Gratzer.
Source: Nachrichten
