81 percent decrease in killed car drivers between the ages of 17 and 24
Vienna (OTS) – In 2003, the multi-stage multi-phase training including driver safety training and traffic psychology group discussion was introduced by law in Austria. One goal of the program: to reduce the number of accidents, especially in the group of young drivers who are new to a driving license – because around 87 percent of the driving licenses issued for category B go to people aged 17 to 24. The ÖAMTC accident research compared the number of traffic accidents involving car drivers in this age group before and following the introduction of multi-phase driver training with all age groups.
A look at the accident statistics shows that the program has a positive effect on road safety: in car accidents involving drivers from the 17 to 24 age group, the value fell by 56 percent, while the decline in all car accidents was 38 percent over the same period. There was an even greater decline of 81 percent in the number of car drivers killed in the young age group – in comparison, the number of car drivers killed in all age groups fell by 68 percent (source: Statistics Austria). “The decrease in accidents and traffic deaths is largely due to higher vehicle safety. However, the greater decrease compared to all car drivers indicates the positive influence of the multi-phase,” explains ÖAMTC traffic expert David Nosé.
More safety through multi-phase driving safety training
The ÖAMTC Fahrtechnik has been involved in high-quality training for young drivers throughout Austria since 2003. “In our multi-phase driving safety training courses, various steering, braking and evasive exercises are on the program – according to the motto ‘learning by experiencing'”, explains Martin Studener, Managing Director of ÖAMTC Fahrtechnik. In the training courses, new drivers are safely introduced to possible emergency situations and learn how to master them on extensive slopes. “Since 2003, around 740,000 new drivers have been optimally prepared for road traffic in our eight centers.”
In the past 20 years, a lot has changed in terms of traffic and vehicle technology. In order to keep up with these changes, training must also be continuously adapted. “A key success factor is our professional and experienced instructors, who are trained in both driving technique and didactics and are continuously trained,” states Studener. “In addition, technical innovations and new potential risks are incorporated into our multi-phase training courses.” For example, a specially developed distraction exercise is intended to sensitize car drivers to the dangers of using cell phones at the wheel. The traffic psychological group discussion in the driver’s license training courses of the ÖAMTC Fahrtechnik is carried out exclusively with experienced psychologists from the Board of Trustees for Road Safety (KFV).
Accidents involving personal injury by federal state – comparison period of three years
In order to keep the relevance of annual fluctuations as low as possible, the average value from the years 2000 to 2002 was compared with that of the years 2019 to 2021.
UPS car region young drivers (17 – 24 years) 2000-2002 2019-2021 Burgenland 308 128 -58.44% Carinthia 914 413 -54.81% Lower Austria 2,347 1,171 -50.11% Upper Austria 3,062 1,200 -60.81% Salzburg 873 363 -58.42% Styria 2,386 862 -63.87% Tyrol 1226 468 -61.83% Vorarlberg 478 267 -44.14% Vienna 1,073 641 -40.26% Austria 12,667 5,513 -56.48%
Source: Statistics Austria / Processing: ÖAMTC accident research
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