Traffic accident statistics 2023: Siegen-Wittgenstein district once again the safest region in NRW
Siegen-Wittgenstein
The Siegen-Wittgenstein district is statistically the safest region in North Rhine-Westphalia when it comes to road traffic. This was revealed by the traffic accident statistics for 2023, which were presented at a press conference on Monday (18.03.2024). The district police authority thus defended its top position in the state from the previous year.
In 2023, both the absolute number of road accidents and the number of road users involved in accidents fell compared to the previous year. In 2023, the district police authority recorded 9,202 road accidents. There were a total of 759 casualties. The number of accidents fell by 61 compared to 2022, while the number of casualties fell by 3 percent (-23 casualties).
This means that there were only fewer accidents in the coronavirus year 2021 and only fewer road accidents in 2020 and 2021.
District Councillor Andreas Müller expressed his delight at the press conference: "This is the second-lowest number of accidents since 1983 - a really top result!"
Last year, 125 people were seriously injured and 632 people suffered minor injuries in road accidents. The number of road deaths even fell to its lowest level since 1983.
Department head Klaus Bunse: "Two road users lost their lives in accidents in our district last year. This brings us very close to one of the primary overall goals of "Vision Zero", namely zero road deaths. However, every road fatality is one too many, because every fatally injured person leaves behind relatives, survivors and friends who have to cope with a terrible loss. That is why we are continuing to work on achieving "Vision Zero"."
In contrast, the number of hit-and-run accidents has increased. On average, the perpetrators of 4.5 accidents fled the scene every day. The police had to file a total of 1,643 reports for "unauthorized removal from the scene of the accident".
Happily, the number of hit-and-run accidents resulting in personal injury fell by 4% to 47 accidents. In 66% of these cases, the police were able to solve the crime.
A look at the main causes of accidents shows that "Errors when turning, reversing or driving into flowing traffic" now top the list of accidents involving personal injury. In a total of 84 accidents, these causes were responsible for the accident.
In second place comes the cause "speed" with 64 accidents. In contrast to the other causes, speed is much more difficult to determine as an exact cause. The situation is usually clearer in the event of a right of way or reversing error. The actual number of speeding accidents is therefore likely to be significantly higher.
Although the cause of accidents "alcohol/drugs" is "only" in fourth place with a total of 49 accidents (63 people injured), the police appeal: "Stop your vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs." The consumption of alcohol or drugs often goes hand in hand with an increased willingness to take risks on the part of road users, which then often leads to considerable personal injury and/or property damage in the event of an accident. It is not uncommon for numerous road users to be affected or for the journey to end in buildings.
The police's road safety work focuses on certain risk groups.
In terms of age, these are children, young people, young adults (18-24 years) and senior citizens.
It is pleasing to note that the number of accidents is falling in almost all age groups and is at a low level (55 children, 35 young people and 89 senior citizens involved in accidents). Only among young adults did the number of accidents stagnate (129 young adults involved in accidents).
There are also risk groups in the types of traffic. These include pedestrians, cyclists and pedelec riders, users of so-called small electric vehicles such as e-scooters as so-called low-traffic participants, but also motorcyclists.
There were also positive developments here. The number of 36 motorcyclists involved in accidents is the second lowest in the last ten years. Unfortunately, there was one fatally injured motorcyclist in 2023.
The number of cyclists involved in accidents also fell (71 accidents). On the other hand, the number of pedelec riders involved in accidents rose to 61.
This can certainly be explained by the steadily increasing number of pedelec riders. While the "e-bike" was introduced early on in the major cities and areas with more flat terrain, this has been somewhat delayed in the district, meaning that the accident trend is also "lagging behind" somewhat. Across the country, pedelec accidents involving personal injury are declining slightly.
The topography also plays a role in the development of e-scooter accidents. While rental/loan e-scooters are part of the cityscape in many large cities, this is not the case here in the region. This is also reflected in the accident figures. In 2023, a total of five injured e-scooter riders were recorded.
The number of pedestrian accidents fell to "corona level" (78 accidents). Particularly positive: although pedestrians are particularly at risk, no fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians had to be recorded in 2023.
In order to be able to compare authorities or regions, the so-called accident frequency rate and the accident frequency rate are used in the traffic accident statistics. In both cases, these figures are extrapolated up or down to 100,000 inhabitants.
In both cases, the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein has the lowest and therefore best frequency figure in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
This means that the top position already held for the accident year 2022 has been achieved again.
District Administrator Andreas Müller: "The repetition of this result shows that we are doing a very good job in road safety work, both in the area of road accident monitoring and in the area of road accident prevention. According to statistics, nowhere in North Rhine-Westphalia is the risk of becoming a victim of a road accident lower than here.
We are continuing to work on ensuring that you can hopefully have another accident-free year in 2024."