Prevention measure

Focus week due to “distraction” on the roads

Jürgen Neuwirth (Head of the Pedagogical Department at the Burgenland Education Directorate), Colonel Andreas Stipsits (Police - Head of the Provincial Traffic Department), Christian Schimanofsky (Managing Director of the Board of Trustees for Road Safety), Thomas Steiner (Mayor of Eisenstadt) and Heinrich Dorner (Provincial Councillor for Transport).(Bild: Bgld. Landesmedienservice )

Distraction in road traffic is the main cause of 45 percent of all road accidents in the province - a prevention measure is therefore being implemented. 

Talking on the phone, reading or drinking while driving - these distractions led to 381 accidents in Burgenland in 2022, in which 442 road users were injured and four people were killed. The most vulnerable groups of people include schoolchildren aged 15 to 19. The state sees a need for action: State Transport Minister Heinrich Dorner, the police and the KFV (Austrian Road Safety Board) are campaigning for more education to prevent distraction accidents from happening in the first place.

The extent of distraction is underestimated
"In order to increase road safety, we have already stepped up the state's own radar monitoring starting in fall 2020 as well as other heavy traffic checks in the state's own test halls. More prevention work is also needed," says Dorner. The focus week started on February 26 in Eisenstadt, was carried out by the KFV and was aimed at young people in grades 7 to 9. A course was set up with interlocking stations. A 270 degree safety box was used for the first time. This box is an interactive tool that allows pupils to test for themselves how carelessness when using a smartphone can quickly lead to tricky situations.

However, Christian Schimanofsky, Managing Director of KFV, explains the effects of briefly using a cell phone while driving: "It takes around five seconds to write a short text message. At a speed of 50 km/h, drivers therefore cover 70 meters per text message while driving blind. This example makes it clear that the diverse information and demands of road traffic require our full attention. Multitasking in road traffic does not work."

300 young people are educated about the causes of accidents
There was a great deal of interest: 300 pupils had registered for the event. "Eisenstadt is an important school location. Pupil safety is a major concern for us. With the almost comprehensive introduction of a 30 km/h speed limit in Eisenstadt, we have already been able to implement an immediate measure to reduce accidents. However, road safety is an ongoing task that also involves raising awareness. That's why we were happy to partner the focus week and made the E_Cube available for this purpose," says Mayor Thomas Steiner.

250 focus campaigns throughout Burgenland
Although driving while on the phone is punished by the police, it should not be allowed to get that far in the first place. The head of the provincial traffic department, Colonel Andreas Stipsits, emphasizes: "Last year alone, we carried out 250 focus campaigns in Burgenland. Unfortunately, we are constantly becoming aware of the extent of distractions in road traffic."