Serious accident on summer toboggan run: girl thrown out of vehicle!

Serious accident on summer toboggan run: girl thrown out of vehicle!

On August 3, 2025, a serious accident occurred on the Speed-Gleitbahn in Schönau, Austria, approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Linz. A ten-year-old girl was seriously injured when she was thrown from her vehicle at the end of the track. A second car crashed into the girl's without braking at a speed of 40 to 50 km/h, causing serious injuries. The driver of the second car, a 50-year-old man, explained that the brakes on his sled were not working.

The girl had already unbuckled her seatbelt when she got out, which may have caused her to fall out of the vehicle. The impact was so violent that she was thrown up to five meters. Her injuries are of undetermined severity. The Austrian public prosecutor's office in Linz then seized the man's vehicle and ordered an investigation to clarify the cause of the accident. Despite the incident, the railway was back in operation on Friday, the day after the accident.

Risks on summer toboggan runs

Accidents on summer toboggan runs, also known as Alpine Coasters or Mountain Coasters, are not uncommon and often result in serious injuries. According to information from the TÜV Association, most of these incidents are the result of passenger misconduct and are not caused by technical defects. Rear-end collisions like the one that happened in Schönau are a common risk because passengers often underestimate the dynamics and requirements while driving. In addition, weather conditions such as wet conditions can negatively affect driving and braking behavior, which can lead to temporary closures.

Summer toboggan runs are categorized into two main types: flume or tub toboggan runs and rail toboggan runs. While raceways offer an intense driving experience, their design poses a higher risk of passengers being thrown out at high speeds. Rail toboggan runs, on the other hand, typically offer higher speeds and minimize the risk of ejections as long as the occupants are securely strapped in.

Safety measures for passengers

In order to increase safety while riding on summer toboggan runs, numerous safety measures and rules of conduct are important. This includes serious observance of signs and applicable rules, maintaining a safety distance of at least 25 meters and checking speed, especially on gutter tracks. It is essential to use restraint systems correctly and to sit still while driving. Children should also be accompanied in an age-appropriate manner and attention should be paid to size and age restrictions. The consumption of alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited as this can significantly impact safety.

The safety standards for summer toboggan runs in Germany are based on the international standard DIN ISO 19202, which regulates planning, construction, operation and testing. Before commissioning, an initial safety test by an independent testing center is required by law, followed by annual tests that include, among other things, the carriages, braking systems and restraint devices.