Road safety in BW: Accidents are falling, e-bikes bring new risks!

Road safety in BW: Accidents are falling, e-bikes bring new risks!

In an informative examination of traffic safety in Baden-Württemberg, it can be seen that road traffic is much safer today than thirty years ago. So [Tagesschau] (https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/badenwuerttemberg/swr-sicher-auer-strasse-gt-es-hute- Meute--Weniger-unfa- in-bw-als- Frueher-100.html) and other experts per 100,000 inhabitants in 1990 to just 3.3 fell in 2023. The decline in traffic accidents with personal damage was also significant - from 17.7 percent in 1990 to 10.8 percent in 2024.

This positive development is not only due to better traffic and infrastructure, but also to the increasing security of modern vehicles, especially in the middle and upper class. "Demography and modern technologies play a role," said Thoralf Knote from the Fraunhofer Institute. The measures to identify accident focuses have also shown their effect.

accident figures in detail

In 2024 there were the first signs of a changed danger situation in traffic. An increase in pedelec accidents, especially among younger drivers, was found. Destatis reports that in 2023 almost a third of the injured pedelec drivers were only 11 percent in 2014. At the same time, the number of pedelec accidents led to personal injury rose from 2,200 in 2014 to 23,900 in 2023.

e-scooter and the new challenges

With the advent of e-scooters, e-bikes and other forms of electrified mobility, the traffic situation is also complicated. According to an analysis of the number of accidents of e-scooters and other means of transport for 2023, more and more people are facing new challenges in road traffic. Statista presents that the number of accidents with e-scooters show a worrying trend. The statistics on these accidents represent a high need for attention and, if necessary, a reorientation of traffic education.

In view of the fact that the number of traffic fatalities has decreased significantly in recent decades, it should be noted that the integration of new traffic operators such as e-scooters is both opportunities and risks. Organizations and traffic watchdogs in Baden-Württemberg are committed to actively addressing these challenges. Free first aid courses and specific apps from aid organizations also support.

A call for improvement

It is increasingly required to improve the infrastructure for cyclists. The general German bicycle club (ADFC) points out that there is still a lot to do here, especially when separating bike and car traffic. Tempolimits on streets and highways are also a hotly discussed topic, whereby the population seems to be split on this matter.

Finally, it can be said that traffic safety in Baden-Württemberg has made gratifying progress, but the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters brings new challenges. Close cooperation between the authorities and the population could help keep the safety in road traffic at all.