Fog crashes injured 27 people in Vorarlberg last year

Fog-related crashes injured people in 27 incidents in Vorarlberg in 2025, the second-highest total in eight years despite a decline from 2024, ORF reports. Across Austria, there were 730 such crashes, the highest figure in at least 20 years, and 17 people died.

Excessive speed for the conditions is the main cause, according to Roland Frisch, chief car instructor at ÖAMTC. Drivers often follow the tail lights of the vehicle ahead, he said, creating a false sense of security and leaving too little distance, particularly on rural roads and motorways.

People aged 20 to 29 are most often involved in fog-related crashes. Frisch said limited driving experience can make it harder for them to judge the conditions.

Drivers should adjust their speed to visibility and leave more space between vehicles, Frisch advised. They should use dipped headlights because daytime running lights usually do not illuminate the rear of the vehicle. Fog lights and rear fog lights should be used only when visibility is reduced. High beams can make visibility worse in fog.