This paper describes that the risk of being killed or injured in a road traffic accident has continued to decrease in the former West Germany in the last few years, despite the considerably greater traffic volume. The lowest figures for traffic-related deaths since accident statistics were first introduced in the year 1950 are expected in 1993. Today's relatively high road safety standard is essentially attributable to a number of factors. These include: (1) improved active and passive vehicle safety; (2) a quick and efficient accident rescue system; (3) decades of consistent road safety work directed at all; and (4) target groups from the small child to the pensioner. In the former East Germany, the number of accidents rose sharply in the initial period following reunification. The main reasons for this were as follows: (i) inadequate technical safety standards in vehicles; (ii) rapid increase in the volume of traffic on poor roads; (iii) the increased tendency to "let oneself go"; and (iv) reckless behaviour of drivers. Although the risk of being killed or injured on the roads is currently twice as high in the former East Germany as in the former West Germany, a favourable development is now emerging in accident trends. However, it will presumably take some years before the former East Germany achieves safety standards that are similar to those of the former West Germany.
Abstract