The region of Schleswig-Holstein is in focus. - Nearly 2,500 fatalities occurred on roads over a span of 20 years.
In the streets of Schleswig-Holstein, around 2500 people have met their demise in traffic-related incidents over the past twenty years. Out of this number, approximately 52.7% were driving automobiles, as per the Statistical Office of Northern Germany. Next, came motorcycles/mopeds with 18.7% and pedestrians at 12.7%. The smallest percentage belonged to cyclists with 10.7%.
The number of victims has reduced over time. Between 2004-2013, there were on average 142 folks who perished annually. In the second decade, however, this number dropped considerably to a mere 104 fatalities. The first casualty on an electric scooter (e-scooter) was recorded in 2021, the same year it debuted in statistics. Unfortunately, there was a second one in 2023.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of injured individuals and fatalities witnessed a decrease. Consequently, 77 people passed away in 2021. If the pandemic years (2020 and 2021) are excluded, the average number of fatalities per year due to a road accident stood at 107 between 2014-2023. Over the last decade, the number of casualties has reduced by approximately one-quarter compared to the preceding decade.
This decline is consistent across most categories of road users. However, the number of wounded cyclists decreased by only 12.8%. One explanation for this could be the rise in the use of e-bikes. In fact, e-bikes were the cause of 10 fatalities, while traditional bikes resulted in only four cyclist deaths.
In terms of injuries, the total count exceeded 312,000 since 2004. Considering the population, Schleswig-Holstein's injury rate stands at 518.8 instances per 100,000 residents. This is a new low point without taking pandemic years (2020 and 2021) into account. Prior to COVID-19, the figure was 549.1. Yet again, almost all categories witnessed a drop, with the sole exception of cyclists. The average injury rate increased significantly by almost 17% when compared to the preceding decade. One possible factor could be the growing popularity of e-bikes, which contributed to a higher number of accidents involving cyclists.
Read also:
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of road accidents and fatalities in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, as reported by the Statistical Office for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, also saw a decrease. Despite this trend, statistics reveal that traffic accidents in Schleswig-Holstein still account for a significant number of accidents and injuries each year. Interestingly, traffic statistics in Schleswig-Holstein also include data on accidents involving electric scooters, with the first fatal incident recorded in 2021. Traffic accidents also remain a concern in major cities like Hamburg.
