The trend towards less serious traffic accidents continued in 2019. However, the statistics show a worrying development for a group of cyclists.
- 2019 was the year with the least serious accidents since recording began 60 years ago.
- Compared to 2018 , there were 6.6 percent fewer traffic fatalities in 2019
- The numbers have been declining for decades
Wiesbaden - Never since the start of statistics have so few people been killed in road traffic accidents in Germany as last year. The number of fatalities dropped by 6.6 percent to 3,059, as the Federal Statistical Office announced on Thursday in Wiesbaden , citing preliminary figures. With around 384,000 cases, 3.0 percent fewer people were injured.
Accident statistics: Traffic fatalities have been declining for decades
The number of fatalities has been falling for decades - with small outliers. Nationwide statistics have been kept since 1953. In 2018, the year-on-year increase to 3,275 was due to, among other things, more cyclists killed. The numbers fueled the discussion about speed limits again. Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) said on Twitter that he wanted to do everything to achieve "Vision Zero" (zero traffic fatalities). This applies in particular to cyclists. The chairman of the Bundestag Transport Committee, Cem Özdemir (Greens) , called for protection for all road users. This requires 30 km / h as a standard speed in the city , safe cycle paths and zones into which a truck without a turning assistant is not allowed to drive. The VCD also requested speed limits on country roads of 80 and on motorways of 120 kilometers per hour. So far, Scheuer has rejected a speed limit * on motorways.
Accident statistics 2019: greatest decline among motorcyclists
The police recorded another 2.7 million more accidents in 2019 , the increase was almost two percent. The figures are available for the year as a whole, but individual late reports from the police are still possible, said a spokesman for the Federal Office. The e-scooters that have been whizzing around in many cities since last summer have not yet been specifically identified.
Also interesting: Too ruthless on the road? The dispute over the e-scooter
As the Tagesschau reports, the e-scooters will be part of the statistics from 2020 :
E-scooter from 2020 part of the accident statistics https://t.co/IRdrA47mSO #ERoller # accidents
- tagesschau (@tagesschau) December 7, 2019According to the more detailed results available so far from January to November 2019, there was the greatest decrease in killed drivers of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters - with minus 15.1 percent. Fewer pedestrians also had fatal accidents, the number fell by almost seven percent. Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Bremen reported more traffic fatalities to the Federal Office than in the previous year. Otherwise the numbers fell the most in Bavaria, Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. Measured by the number of inhabitants, the risk of dying on the road was highest in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Accident statistics 2019: alarming figures for e-bikes
However, the statistics show a strong increase in pedelec accidents. Up to and including November, 114 riders of such bikes died with electrical assistance, which is an increase of 32.6 percent compared to the previous year. The number of seriously injured rose by around a fifth to 2452, as the Federal Office announced. It is a continuation of a development that has been going on for years, said accident researcher Siegfried Brockmann from the Association of the German Insurance Industry. The background is that mainly older people used the bikes, where an electric motor supports pedaling up to a speed of 25 kilometers per hour. Brockmann suggested that this upper limit be linked to physical performance. Remedial measures would also create wider and safer cycle paths , and cyclists would also need better protection in the area of intersections, said the expert. The security courses offered for seniors up to now should become more attractive. Brockmann also strongly advised to wear a helmet. The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) called for a fundamental redesign of the inner cities in favor of cycling.
Read also: Cyclists and pedestrians little protected in traffic
Growing aggression on Germany's streets
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Arne Roller
* tz.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network
* With material from dpa
List of rubric lists: © picture alliance / Frank Rumpenh
