Deadly accidents at tram stops: Münchner discuss security!

Deadly accidents at tram stops: Münchner discuss security!

traffic accidents at stops are a serious problem in Germany, which always focuses on the public. The incident on May 7, 2023 at the Donnersbergerstrasse tram stop in Munich was particularly tragic. An SUV driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a waiting house at high speed, which led to several serious injuries. Among the injured were a 22-year-old student and a 79-year-old Munich woman who succumbed to her injuries a few days after the accident. Such tragic events raise the question of security at tram and bus stops, such as sueddeutsche.de reports.

The discussion about security measures is re -lit for stops due to the frequency of accidents. In Germany, thousands of road users come to damage every year - in 2018 alone, 4,130 injuries were reported in 3,294 accidents with personal injury. 46 people died and 815 were seriously injured. And this despite the fact that many of these accidents, often caused by excessive speed or inattentiveness, take place at inner-city stops, as the UDV states. Later analyzes show that the accidents at stops in the statistics are often underrepresented.

danger zones analyzed

The new study of the UDV examines how traffic safety on different types of stops can be improved. It is particularly alarming that stop areas have higher accident densities than the "free route". Behavioral analyzes at 102 partial stops showed that many pedestrians cross the road with small gaps in time, especially at stops without safe waiting areas. Especially in tram stops, there are often conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians who further endanger security.

In order to improve the security situation, experts recommend, among other things, to place crossing aids close to the holding position and to appropriately dimension cycling systems. Parking in the immediate vicinity of stops should also be restricted to better protect pedestrians. These measures could help reduce the number of accidents and thus increase the security for all road users.

political reactions and structural changes

The latest accidents also move politics. Munich's third mayor, Dominik Krause, emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen security measures. However, he also refers to legal restrictions that must be taken into account when implementing measures. The positive example is the redesigned novel square in Nymphenburg. Here, the security standards for waiting ends were significantly increased through concrete structural changes.

The discussion about security at stops is urgent and necessary. A serious accident in Leipzig, in which three people died in March 2021, states. Such incidents underline the need to put traffic safety on a solid basis, especially in local public transport, in order to strengthen the trust of passengers. The question remains: How many tragic stories do we have to hear before we take the necessary steps?

The statistics speak for themselves and are a call to quickly implement the urgently needed measures to improve security at stops. After all, it is about the lives of people who rely on public transport, and every accident is one too much.