Traffic chaos in Austria: increase in bicycle and e-scooter accidents!

Traffic chaos in Austria: increase in bicycle and e-scooter accidents!

In recent years, traffic accident statistics have changed dramatically in both Austria and Germany. A significant increase in traffic accidents, particularly among bicycle and e-scooter users, is causing worrying developments in road safety.

In Austria, the Board of Trustees for Road Safety (KFV) recorded an alarming increase in traffic deaths. In 2024, 351 people were already involved in road traffic accidents, which is a significant increase compared to the previous year. The Austrian government's goal was to register fewer than 310 traffic deaths. However, the number of fatal accidents rose by 17 percent in the first half of 2024 alone. In particular, the proportion of bicycle, e-bike and e-scooter riders involved in accidents increased by 73 percent, with at least 25 people having accidents [Merkur] reports that...

Road safety strategies and compulsory helmet use

Although the number of car accidents is decreasing, accidents involving cyclists and other two-wheeled users are on the rise. In 2024, 74 percent more cyclists and e-scooter riders were involved in personal injury accidents than a decade ago. The majority of accidents are caused by solo accidents, with a decline in accidents where cyclists and e-scooter riders are the main culprits [Merkur] reports that...

Klaus Robatsch, the head of the KFV, calls for helmets to be compulsory for e-bikes and e-scooters in order to increase safety for these users. Andreas Schäuble from DEKRA supports this demand and emphasizes that helmets can help mitigate head injuries. With regard to the Austrian road safety strategy, it is planned to reduce fatal accidents in road traffic by 50 percent by 2030 [Merkur] reports that...

Increase in e-scooter accidents in Germany

The development is also evident in Germany, where e-scooters have been permitted on the road since July 2019. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 11,940 e-scooter accidents with personal injuries were registered in 2024, 26.7 percent more than in the previous year. These accidents claimed 27 lives, while 1,513 people were seriously injured and 11,433 were slightly injured [Test.de] reports that...

The popularity of e-scooters is growing, with the number of registered vehicles increasing from 180,000 in 2020 to 990,000 in 2023. Surprisingly, around 80 percent of these e-scooters belong to private individuals and not rental companies. Young adults in particular are often affected, as almost half of injured e-scooter riders are under 25 years old [Test.de] reports that...

Alcohol consumption plays a significant role in e-scooter accidents: 12 percent of drivers involved in an accident were under the influence. A large proportion of drivers also fundamentally ignore traffic rules, as 21 percent drive incorrectly on roads or sidewalks without being aware of the regulations for cycle paths [Test.de] reports that...

Injuries and patience when dealing with e-scooters

A study analysis from a Munich clinic shows that head injuries often occurred in e-scooter accidents. Of 60 registered patients, only 3.3 percent wore a helmet. The most common injuries were head and facial injuries, followed by extremity fractures. What is particularly striking is that 36.7 percent of accidents occurred at night, which further shows the need for awareness campaigns about safety precautions [PMC] reports that...

These developments in Austria and Germany illustrate the urgent need for action in traffic safety policy. The focus must be particularly on education about correct behavior in traffic and the implementation of protective measures such as compulsory helmet use.