A third drive too fast in traffic
The speed limit is frequently exceeded on Swiss roads. A new BFU survey shows: One in three vehicles is traveling too fast. This is worrying, as speed is one of the most frequent causes of serious traffic accidents. The political demand to increase the speed limit to 100 outside built-up areas and 130 on freeways would have serious consequences. BFU Director Stefan Siegrist warns: «That would result in many deaths and serious injuries.»
Every eighth serious road accident in Switzerland is caused by excessive speed. This also includes accidents where the speed was not adapted to the conditions. The BFU has investigated how well the signalized speed limits are observed throughout Switzerland. The analysis shows that around a third of drivers do not adhere to the speed limit.
Discipline has waned out of town
Although the proportion of those who adhere to the speed limit is highest at 80 km/h, 27 % are now driving faster than the speed limit here too. In the last survey in 2019, the figure was 21 %. For BFU Director Stefan Sigrist, this is a worrying development: «Outside built-up areas, almost one in four accidents can be attributed to speed.» On average, 116 people die on roads outside built-up areas every year and 1400 are seriously injured. «Despite this, politicians want to increase the speed limit here by a whopping 25 % to 100 km/h - a dangerous move,» says Siegrist.
Political position
Experience has shown that a higher speed limit leads to higher speeds being driven on the roads - even on bends and in blind spots. Some road users would continue to drive faster than permitted. This increases the general speed level. There is less time to react, the braking distance is longer and the risk of accidents increases. In particular, the risk of serious head-on collisions also increases - this always affects innocent people who adapt their speed to the conditions and adhere to the limits. In addition, the Swiss road infrastructure is not designed for higher maximum speeds.
Higher speed limits mean more deaths and serious injuries
Empirical models can be used to calculate the consequences of a higher average speed. The required increase in speed on freeways from 120 km/h to 130 km/h appears low at first glance. However, the risk of accidents increases disproportionately with speed. Every year, 17 people die on highways. An increase of 10 km/h would result in more than twice as many fatalities per year. On roads outside built-up areas, an increase in the speed limit from 80 km/h to 100 km/h would have a particularly devastating effect on the number of accidents.
The BFU therefore warns against increasing speed limits on freeways and roads outside built-up areas, as is currently being demanded by politicians. Higher speed limits would result in significantly more deaths and serious injuries.
At the same time, Stefan Siegrist notes: «The BFU survey also shows that the majority respect the speed limits.» In addition, the BFU has found in population surveys that the vast majority are in favor of a speed limit of 120 km/h on freeways. Acceptance of 80 km/h outside built-up areas is even higher.
Speed is one of the biggest risks in road traffic.
The BFU therefore recommends:
- Adapt speed to road, traffic and visibility conditions
- Keep a sufficient distance
- Buying a car with safety-relevant driver assistance systems
- Never switch off safety-relevant driver assistance systems and use them correctly
Source: bfu
