Shock in Ottakring: 73-year-old seriously injured after accident!

Shock in Ottakring: 73-year-old seriously injured after accident!

There was a serious traffic accident in Vienna-Ottakring on Monday evening. A 64-year-old driver caused a tragic incident during a parking maneuver on Paletzgasse. The man allegedly accidentally put the vehicle in forward gear, causing a 73-year-old pedestrian to become trapped between two parked vehicles and suffer serious, life-threatening injuries. As a result, the pedestrian was taken to hospital by emergency services while the police investigated. A breath alcohol test on the driver revealed a level of 0.6 per mille, which immediately landed him in the dock. This reports W24.

Accidents in which alcohol is involved are a major problem in road traffic. According to the ÖAMTC An alarming statistic: in 2024, the country recorded a total of 2,705 alcohol-related accidents resulting in personal injury, representing over 7% of all traffic accidents. The number of alcohol-related accidents is particularly noticeable in July and August, with around 24% of these incidents occurring in these months alone. The 64-year-old from Ottakring joins an unfortunate statistic.

Growing problem in statistics

The problem of drunk driving is not only evident in Vienna. The number of these accidents has continuously increased in recent years. The 30 to 39 year old age group leads the accident statistics with almost 23%, followed by the 20 to 29 year old age group with almost 20%. It is also alarming that over 86% of drunk road users are men. A particularly large number of these accidents occur on Saturdays, which statistically accounts for more than a fifth.

The legal regulations are clear: from 0.5 per mille it becomes critical. A strict limit of 0.1 per mille applies to drivers with a probationary driving license as well as to truck and bus drivers. If you check for a blood alcohol level of 0.8 or more, you not only face high fines, but also the loss of your driving license. In the event of an accident, even liability insurance can demand a refund of up to 11,000 euros if the driver exceeds the alcohol content.

A look at the traffic data

Statistics on road traffic accidents in Austria are regularly recorded and evaluated. The survey covers accidents with personal injuries on public roads and is carefully documented by the police and Statistics Austria. The aim of this continuous observation is to provide a sound basis for accident research and prevention so that tragic incidents like those in Ottakring can be avoided in the future. Statistics Austria offers extensive data and information on this.