349 People died in accidents on Austria’s roads in 2024, 13.2 percent fewer than in 2023 (402). Only in the first Corona year (2020) were there even fewer victims in road traffic in Austria, with 344 people killed. In the second Corona year of 2021, the number of road deaths was 362, and in 2022 it was 370. In the long term, this means the second lowest number of victims since records began in the Ministry of the Interior in 1950.
Gerhard Karner: “These statistics underline the good and conscientious work of the police on the Austrian roads. The focus of traffic enforcement is on the safety and protection of all pedestrians, cyclists and drivers from a small minority who do not want to follow the rules. The police will continue to take consistent action in the event of such violations in the new year.”
Franz Ruf, General Director of Public Security: “The annual statistics confirm the valuable work of our colleagues in the traffic police. The police officers have been made aware of alcohol and drug drivers, and regular priority checks contribute to the safety of all road users.”
Every serious traffic accident is associated with suffering for victims and their families, which is why the greatest possible traffic safety is an important concern for the police and the Ministry of the Interior. In addition to monitoring and control, prevention and awareness-raising are essential tasks of the executive branch to prevent accidents. The police will therefore continue to increase their presence in accident-prone and dangerous areas. Precise measures and focus actions are intended to take speeders, pushers and drunk drivers out of traffic.
348 traffic fatalities are less than an eighth of the fatalities in 1972. In this “blackest year” in accident statistics to date, there were 2,948 deaths. The number of registered vehicles in Austria has almost tripled since 1972 from 2.5 million to 7.3 million in 2024. Just twelve years ago (2012), there were 531 fatalities, significantly more than 500 traffic fatalities.
In the federal states
In Burgenland there were 16 traffic deaths last year (2023: 21), in Carinthia 29 (30), in Lower Austria 83 (100), in Upper Austria 72 (75), in Salzburg 28 (35), in Styria 61 (81) , in Tyrol 32 (35), in Vorarlberg 7 (13) and in Vienna 20 (12).
There was an increase in the number of traffic deaths in Vienna, while declines were recorded in all other federal states. In 2024, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg recorded the lowest number of traffic deaths in 60 years.
Traffic participation
In the fatal traffic accidents in 2024, 147 car occupants lost their lives, 82 motorcyclists (including 27 on light motorcycles), 46 pedestrians, 32 cyclists (including 20 on electric bicycles), 21 truck occupants (including 13 in small trucks), seven Drivers of e-scooters, six moped drivers, four tractor drivers, two drivers of a self-propelled vehicle Work machine and a handlebar of a senior mobile.
Compared to the previous year, there were mostly decreases; the number of motorcyclists killed remained unchanged, while the number of truck occupants killed increased slightly.
Main causes of accidents
The probable main causes of fatal traffic accidents are inattention/distraction (33.1 percent), improper driving speed (23.6 percent), priority violation (13.5 percent), cardiac/circulatory failure/acute illnesses while driving (5.8 percent). , overtaking (5.5 percent), misbehavior by pedestrians (4.6 percent), disregarding commands/prohibitions (3.5 percent), technical defects/insufficient securing of loads (1.7 percent), Exhaustion (1.2 percent) and insufficient safety distance (0.6 percent). Alcohol, drugs or medication were present in 24 or 6.9 percent of fatal accidents.
Compared to 2023, there were shifts; fewer accidents were registered due to pedestrian misconduct, lack of safe distance, disregard of commands/bans, unsuitable driving speed, overtaking, fatigue and violation of right of way. There were increases in the main causes of alcohol, drugs or medication, heart/circulatory failure/acute illnesses at the wheel, technical defects/insufficient load securing and inattention/distraction.
Road types and local area/open land
There were 32 traffic fatalities on motorways and expressways; This means a share of 9.2 percent of all traffic deaths and a decrease of 17 or 34.7 percent compared to 2023 (49). The majority of fatal accidents occurred on former federal highways (139 fatalities), followed by state highways (105) and other roads (72). 247 road users (71.0 percent) died in the open in 2024, 101 or 29.0 percent in the local area.
Child accidents
Four children aged up to 14 years died in traffic in 2024, three of them as car passengers and one child as a pedestrian. Seven children had fatal accidents in 2023 and 13 in 2022. No child between the ages of six and 15 died in an accident on the way to school in 2024.
Worst accident on B 17
The most serious accident last year occurred on Thursday, May 30, 2024, around 9 p.m., on the B 17 in the municipality of St. Egyden am Steinfeld, Neunkirchen district, Lower Austria. Four passengers were killed and two others were seriously injured when a small truck rolled over in a roundabout. The people were four Latvian, one Russian and one Swedish nationals.