- Dekra: Traffic deaths also due to poor infrastructure
The number of traffic fatalities in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia remains unacceptably high, despite positive developments in traffic safety, according to Dekra. "We cannot simply accept that Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, and Thuringia - alongside Lower Saxony - are the federal states with the most traffic fatalities per million inhabitants," said Schwarz in Leipzig at the presentation of the 2024 traffic safety report by the testing organization. He called for a more rapid adaptation of infrastructure to the swift changes in mobility behavior, with a focus on safety-oriented construction and expansion.
The situation in Saxony is particularly alarming. There, the number of traffic fatalities rose from 118 in 2022 to 188 in the previous year. In nearly 60 percent of cases, the cause of the accident could not be clearly determined. Schwarz believes that "a significant number of these can be attributed to the road infrastructure."
According to Dekra, the focus of fatal traffic accidents is not in metropolitan areas, but in rural regions. Factors contributing to this include higher speeds, winding and poorly visible road layouts, and reduced visibility due to trees along the roadside.
Dekra therefore called for increased funding and shorter approval periods for infrastructure projects. It also recommended the expansion of sections with a third lane in alternating directions on accident-prone stretches to facilitate safe overtaking, while introducing and enforcing more no-overtaking zones on critical sections. Additionally, the organization suggested clearing obstacles like trees or poles from the sides of country roads wherever possible. Experts also advocated for more roundabouts. "These enhance traffic safety and, due to the significantly reduced speed, also result in less severe accident consequences," emphasized Schwarz.
In the context of addressing traffic safety concerns, Schwarz proposal includes focusing on the adaptation of infrastructure in response to changes in mobility behavior, giving priority to safety-oriented construction and expansion. Furthermore, Dekra suggests that additional funding and faster approval processes for infrastructure projects could significantly improve transport and telecommunications networks, potentially reducing traffic accidents.
