New traffic rules required

New traffic rules required

E-bikes, e-scooters, cargo bikes, e-rickshaws – the streets of major cities are becoming increasingly crowded. Although there are rules for the use of motorways, cycle paths and sidewalks, these should urgently be adapted to the growing number of new types of vehicles. This was demanded by a committee of transport experts that met at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce for a “security panel”. At the invitation of Stephanie Ernst, chairwoman of the Vienna vehicle trade, and Leonhard Palden, managing director of the Vienna Vehicle Technology Guild, Brigitte Nedbal-Bures from the Vienna police, Sabine Berg from the Wr. Municipal Insurance, Klaus Robatsch from the Board of Trustees for Road Safety, Helmut Mojescick from the insurance brokers' specialist group, Karl Schlosser as a representative of the Vienna driving schools, Günther Schweizer from the ARBÖ and Matthias Nagler from the ÖAMTC. According to KFV statistics, 20 cyclists and 24 e-bike or e-scooter drivers were killed across Austria in 2022. The number of injured cyclists who had to be treated in hospital amounted to 28,600, and the number of e-bike accident victims to 10,000.

“The conflicts between road users are increasing significantly with the new forms of mobility, and there is still room for improvement for many people when it comes to their knowledge of the traffic rules,” stated Matthias Nagler from the ÖAMTC. “Wearing a helmet is already a given on the ski slopes, but unfortunately not yet for cyclists,” added ARBÖ expert Günther Schweizer. The suggestions discussed in the committee to improve road safety ranged from mandatory training and number plates for e-bikes to liability insurance and regular technical inspections of the vehicles. “Everything that moves on wheels should have a number plate and liability insurance,” said Sabine Berg from Wr. Urban to the point. In addition, the experts urgently recommended an amendment to the road traffic regulations - with clearly formulated and fair rules that can be easily understood by everyone. Stephanie Ernst, chairwoman of the Vienna vehicle trade, thanked all participants for the interesting discussion and announced that the safety panel would be expanded into a regular facility: "We want to give politicians an impetus with this discussion. If we can set clear rules for the use of drones, this must also be possible for fast e-scooters, which have a much greater potential for danger!"