Distraction causes one in three Styrian road crashes

Distraction and inattention caused nearly one in three road crashes in Styria, with smartphones playing a significant role, ORF reported. A campaign week is now targeting young people in particular.

Nearly 1,800 crashes in Styria were attributed to distraction in road traffic last year. More than 2,000 people were injured and 21 were killed, figures presented by Austria’s Road Safety Board at a press conference in Graz on Tuesday showed.

Road Safety Board director Christian Schimanofsky warned about the risks of distraction. “If you travel blind for two seconds, that is 30 metres. That means you do not see for 30 metres what obstacle is there. It could also be a person,” he said.

These periods of travelling without paying attention add up, Schimanofsky said. Across Austria, people cover 3,370 kilometres every hour while travelling blind, he said. That is equivalent to 17 times the distance between Graz and Vienna, or once to Helsinki and back.

The police are also recording more offences involving mobile phones. Klaus Rexeis of the Styrian police’s state traffic department said officers issued more than 9,000 on-the-spot fines in 2025 and more than 12,000 so far this year.

The campaign week is aimed at young people. About 480 pupils in school years seven to nine will be able to experience dangerous situations for themselves at the Graz Exhibition Centre.

“What is it like when you are under the influence of alcohol? What is it like when you are using a mobile phone, for example while cycling, but also when crossing the road?” Styrian education director Elisabeth Meixner said. She called road safety education an important issue in schools.

The campaign focuses on the period between the cycling test and obtaining a driving licence, when young people increasingly travel independently. According to the Road Safety Board, distraction is involved in about 40 percent of bicycle crashes and almost one in four pedestrian crashes.