Linz drivers with broken lights get free bulbs instead of fines

Drivers stopped in Linz on Monday with a faulty car light received a free replacement bulb instead of a fine, ORF reported. Police and the ÖAMTC ran the “Light instead of a fine” campaign to highlight road dangers during the darker months.

Accidents are especially common at dusk. More than 1,600 crashes involving injuries were recorded in Upper Austria last year. The province ranks second nationwide for crashes caused by extremely poor visibility in fog. Faulty or inadequate vehicle lights are a significant risk factor.

The campaign took place near all 18 ÖAMTC bases in Upper Austria. Police officer Julia Bacher said working lights matter for all road users, including cyclists and e-scooter riders, who sometimes forget to use them or have lights that do not work.

Michael Macher, head of the ÖAMTC base in Linz, said being able to see and be seen in twilight, darkness or rain was vital. A vehicle with only one working headlight or a single rear light can be difficult to judge when overtaking, he said, with potentially fatal consequences.

According to the Austrian Transport Club, the number of people seriously injured in crashes in darkness or at dusk is about 70 percent higher for car occupants in November and December than in the other months on average. For pedestrians, the figure is more than twice as high.