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Saxony-Anhalt: Traffic accidents involving trees have fallen significantly!
The number of traffic fatalities involving street trees in Saxony-Anhalt has fallen dramatically over the last 30 years, but there are still significant risks.
Saxony-Anhalt: Traffic accidents involving trees have fallen significantly!
The road safety situation in Germany has improved significantly over the last 30 years, especially when it comes to accidents involving roadside trees. A current evaluation shows a drastic decline in traffic deaths in Saxony-Anhalt, where 159 people lost their lives on street trees in 1995, while the number has fallen to just 26 by 2022. This development is a positive signal for road safety, despite the fact that one in four road deaths in Saxony-Anhalt still has an accident on a street tree.
However, the situation on the ground remains worrying. Fatal tree accidents usually occur on country roads and often involve cars. The main causes of such accidents are poor visibility, winding roads, unfavorable weather conditions as well as distraction and drunk driving. Since tree accident statistics were introduced 30 years ago, a total of 1,774 people have died from trees in Saxony-Anhalt, 1,531 of them on country roads. Nationwide, the number adds up to more than 31,000 victims.
Information on accident statistics
The nationwide traffic accident statistics, as provided by Destatis, among others, provide a comprehensive overview of accident events. It not only serves to analyze the causes of accidents, but also forms the basis for measures in legislation and road safety policy. Accidents with personal injury and those involved are recorded according to the type of accident and its consequences. The statistics are an indispensable tool for traffic education, road construction and vehicle technology.
The dangers posed by unprotected street trees are significant. Trees are considered non-deformable obstacles that transfer impact energy directly to the vehicle. Statistics show that the risk of dying from a collision with a tree is three times higher than from a collision with an open side space. To minimize these risks, experts suggest installing guard rails at tree locations and enforcing speed controls and speed limits at accident hotspots. The continuous improvement of vehicle technology also contributes significantly to road safety.
The development of driver assistance systems and other technological advances make it essential that the general conditions in road traffic are also taken into account. Comparing these aspects could save even more lives in the future and make a significant contribution to reducing traffic accidents.