Heads of leading transport engineering chairs in Austria have decided, in light of the looming climate catastrophe, the ongoing energy crisis, and the challenges facing the healthcare system (illnesses caused by air pollution and lack of physical activity, as well as hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries per year due to road accidents), to call on the government to take corrective action. As an effective immediate measure, the legally permitted maximum speeds in built-up areas, on rural roads, and on motorways must be reduced without delay.

Open Letter

The initiators Ao.Univ.Prof. Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Günter Emberger, Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. Martin Berger, Univ.Prof. Dr.rer.pol. Astrid Gühnemann and Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. Markus Mailer hereby call on the Austrian federal government, the Austrian National Council, and the federal states to,

1. reduce the permitted maximum speeds in built-up areas to 30 km/h, on motorways to 100 km/h, and on other rural roads to 80 km/h, 
2. expand the frequency and coverage of speed checks, both spatially and temporally, to ensure compliance with the permitted maximum speeds, 
3. reduce measurement tolerances to the technically necessary minimum,  
4. abolish the state-specific "penalty tolerances", and 
5. standardise and increase penalty levels nationwide to enhance their deterrent effect.

To the OPEN LETTER