2024-07-31 07:22:44
One of the busiest weekends of summer travel is approaching – and at the same time, construction work on Austria’s autobahns and autobahns is traditionally at its peak. Therefore, ÖAMTC urges you to take special care. ÖAMTC traffic psychologist Marion Seidenberger warns: “For road users, the risk of accidents at construction sites is much greater, especially during the peak summer travel period.” A total of 755 injuries occurred at construction sites on the domestic road network last year accident, in which 970 people were injured and 9 died (source: Statistics Austria; processing: ÖAMTC accident study). By far the most common type of accident is a collision, accounting for about two-thirds of all accidents.
“Drivers view construction sites more as a restriction on driving comfort than a safety issue,” explains the ÖAMTC expert. But appearances can be deceiving: especially on highway construction sites, drivers must expect special traffic conditions that require a high degree of concentration. “Even the best construction site safety measures are useless if you don’t follow the traffic rules on the road signs,” Seidenberg explains. “The slightly longer time it takes to do the right thing is disproportionate to the holiday ruined by an accident.”
Sometimes: Stress factors: Traffic jams – sudden delays can cause trouble
Anyone setting out on holiday will usually make an assumption about an optimal journey time, which is an estimate of journey time based on experience or navigation system predictions. ÖAMTC traffic psychologists say: “Motorists often rely on pre-calculated routes and times to reach their destination, and minor delays due to heavy traffic volumes, construction sites and rest breaks can almost be seen as an additional time buffer and Be psychologically considered “On the other hand, unforeseen severe delays can cause immense anger and stress for many drivers. ”
An ÖAMTC survey shows that nearly 60% of drivers believe that sudden traffic jams cause stress to them. More than 10 percent of drivers reacted with extreme stress and anger and actively tried to escape the traffic jam. “Young drivers are much less affected by sudden traffic jams than people over the age of 50,” Marion Seidenberger emphasizes. Important factors that make traffic jams unbearable for individuals include the urgent need to use the toilet, lack of fuel, heat and fatigue, and unpleasant behavior of other road users, for example. Such as chasing/pushing, crossing the road or not following the zipper system.
Optional: ÖAMTC tips for traveling safely through construction sites
* If you approach a bottleneck at the entrance to a construction site, do not under any circumstances panic and cut from the ending lane into the following lane. You should follow the zipper principle to promptly determine the lane in which you want to continue driving, observe the rearview mirror, signal and enter the lane correctly and without any hassle.
* Extra signs, many guidance beacons, unfamiliar lane guidance and sometimes different colored floor markings can be unsettling for drivers. The narrowing of the road sometimes adds to this feeling. For trucks, the right lane is usually wider than the left lane. If the left lane seems uncomfortably narrow, we recommend staying to the right and not overtaking.
* In construction site areas, new effective floor markings must be adhered to, these are usually orange or red.
* Lack of speed in front of a construction site can be very dangerous as it often means there is not enough time and space to arrange things correctly. Most construction site accidents occur in the front area due to slowing down too late and being too close to the vehicle in front. “You can improve safety by adhering to posted speed limits and increasing your distance,” Seidenberg advises. Also important: Stay focused on your lane and don’t let yourself get distracted by what’s going on at the construction site or oncoming traffic.
* In the event of a breakdown, turn on the hazard warning lights immediately and try to drive the vehicle to the designated breakdown area or park the vehicle in a blocked construction site area. If there is no place to break down, here’s what happens: Park your vehicle as far to the right as possible, turn on your hazard lights, put on your safety vest, and drive with extreme caution to safety behind a guardrail.
“Unfortunately, impatience often appears in driving behavior at the end of construction site areas,” says ÖAMTC traffic psychologist, who advises that caution be used when driving out of construction sites. “Real pent-up rage is often unleashed at higher speeds, rear-end collisions, or busy lane changes—presumably to make up for lost driving time quickly and escape the tight confinement you endured earlier.”
Tips for editors: Broadcast photos can be downloaded at www.oeamtc.at/presse.
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