Better road accident prevention called for in built-up areas
The number of serious road accidents in Switzerland increased significantly last year. The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) is therefore calling for an intensification of accident prevention, especially in built-up areas.
Last year’s road accident statistics are worrying, according to the BFU safety barometer published on Tuesday. In 2022, 241 people lost their lives on Swiss roads, a fifth more than in the previous year and the highest number in seven years. The number of people seriously injured also increased by around 70 to 4,002.
The BFU sees a particular need for action in built-up areas. Almost every second serious accident there involves pedestrians and cyclists, it said in a statementExternal link. One reason for this is collision speeds. The introduction of a 30km/h speed limit could prevent at least one third of the serious accidents in built-up areas on 50km/h roads, it claimed.
‘Paradigm shift’
In this respect, it believed a paradigm shift in traffic planning was needed. According to the BFU, 30km/h speed limits should apply not only to neighbourhood streets but everywhere where road safety requires it. For example, main roads that have the right of way should also be included.
In addition, driver aids such as emergency braking systems could help to ensure greater safety in built-up areas. “A road infrastructure that is easy to understand and forgiving of mistakes would also benefit all road users,” it said.
The BFU also sees potential for improvement in the wearing of seat belts in the back seat of cars and in the wearing of helmets on bicycles and slow e-bikes.
In addition to infrastructure measures and raising the awareness of road users, the BFU also believes that more political will is needed to give road safety more weight again.
More
More
Brain overload and faulty judgment cause most road accidents
This content was published on
Almost all road accidents in Switzerland are due to human errors of judgment or analysis in the preceding moments, a recent study found.
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
SWISS prolongs suspension of flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv
This content was published on
Swiss international airlines is extending the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon until August 21.
This content was published on
Zurich Zoo euthanised 49-year-old elephant Ceyla-Himali on Saturday morning. The animal had been suffering from long-standing health problems.
Swiss wages likely to stay flat except for hotel and IT staff
This content was published on
Real wage growth looks set to be flat for most sectors as companies continue to align their wage projections with those for inflation.
Swiss railways expansion abroad deemed not worthwhile
This content was published on
Monika Ribar, chair of the board of the Swiss Federal Railways, defended the company's decision not to operate its own trains abroad.
This content was published on
Around 920,000 people attended the Street Parade in Zurich, according to estimates from the organisers. The event was largely peaceful, though two individuals were seriously injured by Saturday evening.
Accidents with wild animals cause CHF50 million in damage
This content was published on
Every year road accidents involving wild animals cause around CHF50 million ($54 million) in damage throughout Switzerland.
Mandatory bike helmet advocates face uphill battle
This content was published on
“I support mandatory bicycle helmets for everyone,” Reto Babst, head of trauma surgery at the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, told swissinfo.ch. “I see so many accidents with bikes – even normal bikes, not just e-bikes – where people haven’t worn a helmet.” Every year around 900 people are seriously injured on bicycles in Switzerland, with…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.