Fewer than 200 traffic fatalities in Switzerland for the first time
Last year, for the first time, there were fewer than 200 traffic fatalities on Swiss roads. A total of 187 people lost their lives in traffic accidents, 3639 were seriously injured. These figures confirm the efforts of recent years to increase road safety, as the Federal Roads Office writes. There is still a need for action in the area of e-bikes, where the number of people involved in serious accidents (fatalities and serious injuries) has once again increased.
In 2019, 187 people were killed in road accidents in Switzerland (2018: 233) and 3639 seriously injured (2018: 3873), according to the road accident statistics of the Federal Roads Office (Astra). Both figures correspond to the lowest level since accident figures were recorded in 1940 (fatalities) and 1970 (serious injuries). Over a period of several years, the trend towards lower numbers of victims in traffic accidents thus continued. Thanks to various measures in the areas of people, vehicles, data and infrastructure, Switzerland is now one of the international leaders in road safety, according to Astra.
Broken down by individual road user, the following picture emerges:
Pw inmates: Last year, 65 people died as occupants of a passenger car in traffic accidents; this is 14 fewer than in the previous year. 706 people were seriously injured (-91 compared to 2018).
Töff Among motorcyclists, the number of fatalities decreased from 42 in 2018 to 30. The decrease in motorcyclist fatalities was particularly high in the 45-54 age group (2 in 2019, 12 in 2018). 990 motorcyclists were seriously injured (1068 in 2018).
Pedestrians: There was also a decrease in pedestrian fatalities from 43 in 2018 to 37 people in 2019, and in serious injuries from 537 in 2018 to 524 people in 2019. Fifteen people were involved in a fatal accident at a pedestrian crossing, which is 5 more than the previous year.
Driving vehicle like devices (FäG): The Astra statistics now show the FäG drivers separately. In 2019, 39 were seriously injured in traffic accidents (2018: 40); there were no fatal accidents last year (5 fatalities in 2018). In terms of numbers, the largest age group of FäG drivers involved in serious accidents are children aged 2 to 13 (21 in 2019; 30 in 2018).
Velos: In 2019, 16 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents. This is 11 fewer than in the previous year. A significant decrease can be seen in the number of cyclists killed in urban areas: 9 people were killed there, which corresponds to a decrease of 10 people compared to the previous year. One person was killed in a bicycle accident on a cycle path/cycle lane. A total of 802 people were seriously injured (2018: 877).
E-bike: As in previous years, there were more e-bike riders involved in serious accidents in 2019: 11 people were killed (2018: 12) and 355 seriously injured (2018: 309). While there was a decrease in the number of people seriously injured in fast e-bikes from 85 (2018) to 77, the number of people seriously injured in slow e-bikes increased from 236 (2018) to 289 last year. In about three-quarters of the crashes, e-bike riders were the primary cause of the crash, with most of these crashes being skidding or self-inflicted crashes.
61 e-bike riders (45 of them with slow e-bikes) had serious accidents on a cycle path or cycle lane. According to Astra, the infrastructure for cyclists and slow e-bike riders can be improved with the Veloweggesetz (Veloways Act), which is currently being drafted, and thus road safety can be increased.
Source: Astra
The annual statistics of road traffic accidents are based on the information system Road Traffic Accidents of FEDRO. It records all accidents reported to the police on public roads or squares involving at least one motor vehicle, bicycle or vehicle-like device. Persons are considered to have been killed if they die as a result of an accident at the scene of the accident or within 30 days of the accident.
