Court upholds three-year driving ban for illegal race participant

A participant in an illegal street race in the Bregenzerwald must surrender his driving licence for three years after a court rejected his complaint against the administrative penalty, ORF reported.

The race took place on the L200 in April 2025, with the drivers travelling at speeds of up to 156 kilometres per hour in a 60 km/h zone. It ended in a crash in Alberschwende that left four people, some of them seriously, injured. One vehicle crashed into a chapel, and an ambulance was reportedly put at risk.

The participants were also convicted in criminal proceedings at the regional court in February. The driver who caused the crash received a suspended 12-month prison sentence and an unconditional fine of 360 daily rates of 4 euros, totalling 1,440 euros. He was convicted of causing serious bodily harm, causing serious property damage and endangering physical safety.

The other driver, who was travelling behind him, was convicted of endangering physical safety and fined 90 daily rates of 32 euros, totalling 2,880 euros. One third of that fine was suspended. The convictions are final.

In addition to the criminal penalties, one of the drivers was ordered by the district authority to surrender his licence for three years and undergo traffic-psychological and medical examinations. His complaint against that decision was rejected by the court.

It is not known whether the other driver also received an administrative penalty. Such penalties are made public only when the person concerned files a complaint.