Accident statistics 2014: fewer accidents, but more road fatalities

D he police registered a total of 2.4 million traffic accidents in 2014, 0.3% less than in 2013. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) after the final results, this development is due to the fall in accidents with only property damage by 0.9% to 2, 1 million attributable. In contrast, traffic accidents in which people were injured or killed increased by 3.9% to around 302,400. In the process, 3,377 people lost their lives, 38 people or 1.1% more than in the previous year. Overall, however, the number of road deaths was still the second-lowest level since 1950. Around 389,500 people were injured on Germany's roads in 2014, 4.1% more than in 2013.

Weather influences accident figures

The weather conditions may have contributed to the development of accidents in 2014: The winter months were relatively mild, the spring and autumn warm and dry, so frequent two-wheelers on the road. Overall, the number of cyclists killed in 2014 rose by 11.9% to 396 people compared to the previous year and the number of two-wheelers killed by 5.1% to 674. For car occupants (- 0.8% to 1,575 deaths) and Pedestrians (- 6.1% to 523 fatalities), however, decreased the number of fatalities.

Young road users particularly at risk

Accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists were predominantly due to rule violations by other road users. Only 26.6% of the pedestrians involved in accidents and 42.0% of the cyclists involved in accidents were their own fault. On the other hand, drivers of a car who were involved in an accident with personal injury were the main culprit in 55.7% of the cases.

Young adults were most at risk in road traffic: In 2014, 496 people aged from 18 to 24 years fatal, that is 79 people per 1 million inhabitants of this age group. The number of elderly people (over 65 years of age) killed in traffic fell by 1.2% to 987 in 2014 compared to the previous year. With 59 fatalities per 1 million inhabitants aged 65 and over, senior citizens still had the second highest risk of falling victim to road traffic after young adults. There was still a relatively low risk for children under the age of 15 (7 killed per 1 million children). However, in 2014, with 71 children, 13 more children diedGermany's roads than in the previous year.

In 2014, accidents caused by improper speed had the worst consequences: 34.3% of all fatalities and 23.4% of all seriously injured were due to this cause.