In 2023, 4,235 accidents were registered in the Höxter district, 167 fewer than in 2022. The number of accidents involving personal injury also fell from 454 to 428. These figures were given by the Höxter district police authority at the presentation of the 2023 traffic report. Despite the visible trend reversal, five people lost their lives in traffic accidents last year, compared to ten in 2022. 130 were seriously injured in 2023.
"Vision Zero. No one dies. Everyone arrives." This slogan from the German Road Safety Council (DVR) was used by the head of the Traffic Directorate, First Chief Superintendent of Police Markus Tewes, to begin the presentation of the 2023 Traffic Report. The fact that prevention measures and targeted traffic monitoring are having a positive effect can be seen in the accident figures for the past year.
Although the number of serious injuries fell by almost 30 percent, there was an increase in the number of minor injuries. At 440, this figure has reached a ten-year high.
The fact that measures still need to be taken is also reflected in the accident frequency rate. This is calculated from the number of injured persons per 100,000 inhabitants. In the Höxter district, this figure is 405, which is still higher than in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, according to Markus Tewes. In the case of serious injuries, the figure is almost twice as high as in NRW as a whole.
In the road safety work of the Höxter district police authority, traffic accident prevention is becoming more important, with all road users having to be made aware of the dangers of road traffic, announced Police Director Christian Brenski.
District Administrator Michael Stickeln appeals to all road users in the Höxter district: "It is you who can prevent traffic accidents through constant caution and mutual consideration. In doing so, they save lives".
A striking feature of this year's figures is the fall in the number of accidents in the young adult age group (18 - 24-year-olds) from 110 to 95, but a simultaneous rise in the young people age group (15 - 17-year-olds) from 34 to 45 and the senior citizens age group (65 and over) from 78 to 91. The number of senior citizens involved in accidents is at a ten-year high.
Statistically speaking, the main causes of accidents are speeding, failing to give way/giving way and errors when turning. "These are momentary lapses on the part of road users, and these errors must be minimized," says Markus Tewes.
Accidents under the influence of drugs have also risen from 15 in 2022 to 21 in 2023.
In the Höxter district, it is still not worth fleeing the scene of an accident if you are the person responsible: The clearance rate for hit-and-run accidents is 47 percent, making it the second-best figure in the state of NRW. In the case of hit-and-run accidents with personal injury, the clearance rate is as high as 63.9 percent. "However, it is still worrying that one in six people involved in accidents in the Höxter district do not provide the necessary information about their involvement in the accident," emphasized Markus Tewes.
In the specialist traffic strategy, which has been revised for 2024, traffic accident prevention and victim protection are given top priority this year. For example, the "Crash Course NRW" program will continue to reach young drivers and special pedelec courses will be offered for senior citizens. In order to further improve the figures in the future, further measures are also planned in the area of traffic monitoring. /gla
