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Wiesbaden (dpa) - Two-wheelers have benefited the least from the decline in fatal traffic accidents in the past three decades.
From 1991 to 2020, the number of road deaths fell by a total of 76 percent, as the Federal Statistical Office announced in Wiesbaden on Wednesday.
The decrease was 83 percent for car occupants and 80 percent for pedestrians.
For motorbike and bicycle riders, the minus was significantly lower at 55 and 54 percent.
Siegfried Brockmann, head of accident research at the insurers, said that the goal set by the federal government to reduce the total number by 40 percent in the decade by 2020 has clearly been missed.
With the exception of the Corona period, there has been a sideways movement in the numbers since 2010 instead of a downward trend.
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The decline in traffic in the corona pandemic had reached an all-time low last year: According to preliminary figures, 2,719 people died in road traffic in 2020 - 10.7 percent fewer than in the previous year.
The sharpest decline with a minus of 14.2 percent was found in car occupants.
The number of pedestrians killed fell by just under 10 percent, while the decline among cyclists was significantly lower at 4.3 percent.
The development is also evident in the long term: the proportion of car occupants among the accident victims has fallen significantly from 60 to 43 percent since 1991.
For motorcyclists, on the other hand, it increased from around 11 to 20 percent, for cyclists it doubled from 8 to 16 percent.
Brockmann said the weaker road users need more protection.
In the cities, this applies to cyclists.
In order to prevent accidents when turning at intersections, separate traffic light phases and a clear view would have to be created.
The federal government must also make it easier for local authorities to introduce speed limits of 30 kilometers per hour.
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A third of fatal bicycle accidents happen with pedelecs that are equipped with an assisting electric motor.
Here, technical possibilities have to be found to increase safety, especially for older drivers.
A joint appeal from the bicycle industry to wear helmets would also be welcome, said Brockmann.
It also needs to be researched more closely why 40 percent of cyclists died in accidents outside of built-up areas last year.
60 percent of the cyclists killed and 73 percent of the pedestrians killed died in urban areas in 2020.
Almost 90 percent of all car occupants killed and more than 80 percent of motorcycle users killed were out of town.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210407-99-112655 / 2
Press release