Teenager with grandpa's car: joyride ends in violent crash in Vienna!

Teenager with grandpa's car: joyride ends in violent crash in Vienna!

On the night of October 5, 2025, a spectacular incident occurred in Vienna-Donaustadt in which a 16-year-old teenager illegally stole his grandfather's vehicle keys and took his grandfather's unregistered car for a joyride. According to vienna.at, the young driver lost control of the vehicle around 4:00 a.m. and hit three parked cars on Siebenbürgerstraße before coming to a stop.

The 16-year-old, who was traveling with two passengers, 15 and 17 years old, was slightly injured. However, after initial treatment, he was able to be released into home care, while his two companions fortunately remained uninjured. There was significant damage to all vehicles involved, including his grandfather's car. The teenager now faces several charges, including driving without a license and using an unregistered vehicle.

Young drivers and their challenges

The incident highlights a larger issue: the high risk of accidents among young drivers. According to a study by ADAC Accident Research, the 18 to 24 year old age group has accidents twice as often as older road users. This abnormality is particularly noticeable at night, as the traffic watchdog also reports. Accidents often occur as a result of overconfidence, insufficient driving experience or excessive speed.

Statistics show that between 2005 and 2020, a total of 29% of accidents in this age group were solo accidents - a significantly higher percentage compared to older drivers. What is particularly tragic is that 76% of accidents involving young drivers occur outside of urban areas, while many were noticed in collisions with other vehicles due to errors when turning or crossing. Statistics like these make it clear that the young generation still has a lot to learn when it comes to safe driving.

The path to more security

Fortunately, the number of young drivers involved in accidents is declining overall. The introduction of the “Accompanied Driving from 17” program and an absolute ban on alcohol for novice drivers could have positive effects here. According to an analysis by the traffic watchdog, most fatal accidents among young drivers occur on weekends, usually in the late evening and night hours. It is noticeable that young men are affected more often and are often not wearing seatbelts, which increases the risk of injury.

The incident in Vienna reminds us of the urgent need to raise awareness of road safety among young people. Although we can see good progress, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure fewer such tragic accidents in the future. Society, parents and schools are called upon to influence the young generation and make them aware of the dangers of road traffic.

We should all do our best to make the roads safer and, above all, to give our young drivers more responsibility for their actions.