Two tram accidents in Schwerin: Major property damage without any injuries!

Two tram accidents in Schwerin: Major property damage without any injuries!

Yesterday evening, two tram accidents occurred in Schwerin, which brought the city and its transport infrastructure into focus. According to a report by Ostsee Zeitung, the incidents happened on Tuesday evening, the first around 7:40 p.m. in the old town and the second around two hours later, specifically at 10:10 p.m. Both accidents caused total damage of over 10,000 euros, but fortunately there were no injuries.

In the first accident, which occurred at the intersection of Zwilling-Scholl-Strasse and Goethestrasse, an 83-year-old driver ignored the tram's right of way. The damage amounts to around 4,000 euros, while the driver was uninjured.

The second incident and its consequences

The second accident took place on Lübecker Straße at Obotritenring. A 23-year-old driver of an Audi A8 tried to get in front of the approaching tram, but also ignored the right of way. Despite emergency braking by the 55-year-old tram driver, the collision could not be prevented, which resulted in additional damage of 6,000 euros. Fortunately, there was no material damage here either.

The two incidents reflect a larger problem in German road traffic. In 2024, around 2.5 million traffic accidents were registered in Germany, as Statista reports. Although the numbers are down slightly compared to previous years, the challenges remain. The most common causes of accidents are insufficient distance, inadequate speed and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Road safety in focus

The “Vision Zero” goal, which aims to achieve zero traffic deaths by 2050, is an ambitious undertaking for EU transport ministers. While the decline in traffic deaths in Germany from 19,193 in 1970 to 2,770 in 2024 shows progress, the downward trend has slowed since the early 2010s. In the EU, the number of road deaths in 2024 will be 44 per million inhabitants, and in Germany it will be 33.

The demands for better infrastructure and increased awareness among road users are more pressing than ever. Almost 25% of known traffic accidents result from turning, turning or intersection situations. In this context, ADAC accident research has been analyzing serious traffic accidents since 2005 in order to provide sensible recommendations for accident prevention and the reduction of consequential damage. The results from over 40,000 ADAC Luftrettung missions help to better understand common accident scenarios.

The recent events in Schwerin are another wake-up call to be aware of your responsibility in road traffic. In order to avoid accidents, we not only need technological advances, but also responsible behavior on the part of road users. The challenge is clear: safe and responsible traffic design must be the top priority for all of us.