World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
In 2018, 3275 people in Germany (233 in Switzerland) lost their lives in road traffic, and at least 1.3 million people worldwide die each year as a result of traffic collisions. On the occasion of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 17, 2019, the German Road Safety Council (DVR) reminded how drastic and far-reaching the effects of a serious road accident are and how easily these accidents can be avoided.
Every year on the third Sunday in November, all those who have lost their lives in road traffic are remembered worldwide. "A serious accident changes lives. We want to show how serious every loss is. At the same time, we want to draw attention to the fact that every individual bears responsibility in road traffic - not only for themselves, but also for others," says DVR President Prof. Dr. Walter Eichendorf.
Do not forget the severely injured
In addition to those who were killed, the 68,000 or so Seriously injured (3873 in Switzerland) in mind, of whom around 15,000 (D) have to fight for survival or suffer for life from the consequences of accidents, Eichendorf said. Contrary to popular belief, victims are not only concerned with medical care for visible injuries, he said. "Even casualties without bleeding wounds can suffer psychological discomfort as a result of the stressful accident experiences, which can have a massive impact on them," he explains. Psychological complaints potentially affect 113 people in a fatal accident, including witnesses, relatives, First Aider and the accident perpetrators themselves.
Keeping an eye on the main causes of accidents
"In order to prevent accidents with such dramatic consequences, we are all called upon to abide by the traffic rules," the president appeals. "Inappropriate speed has been the number one cause of fatal accidents for years. And these accidents are just as preventable through responsible behavior on the road as they are Distraction accidents due to smartphones." In addition, the DVR has been advocating an absolute ban on drinking and driving for years. "Who soberIf you wear a seat belt, concentrate and drive at an appropriate speed, you have already done a lot for your own safety, but also for the safety of other road users," Eichendorf sums up.
Source: German Road Safety Council (DVR), www.dvr.de
More information about this topic:
The greatest risks in road traffic: In Switzerland, around 240 people die in traffic accidents every year, and almost 4000 are seriously injured. The majority of these accidents are due to behavioral errors. The BFU (Swiss Council for Accident Prevention) knows where the greatest risks lie - and how they can be avoided: Tips & Tricks from the bfu
Go to SINUS Report Safety Level and Accident Incidence in Road Traffic 2018 from BFU.
The TCS Campaign "Slow down, take it easy" should help vehicle drivers to be "cooler" and more considerate at the wheel in order to reduce the number of traffic accidents. Wrong behavior is often the result of emotions such as stress, aggression, frustration, competition, etc. By mitigating these negative effects and staying cool, you have more chances of avoiding these types of accidents.
