Distracted Driving: Situation in Austria

UNCLAS VIENNA 000198 SIPDIS STATE FOR OES/S NANCY CARTER-FOSTER AND EUR/CE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SOCI UNDP UNGA EU AU SUBJECT: Distracted Driving: Situation in Austria REF: State 6703 ¶1. SUMMARY: Per reftel, this cable describes Austrian measures to combat "distracted driving" caused by operating electronic devices. The GoA Transport Ministry referred us to the Austrian Road Safety Board (RSB - www.kfv.at/english/),a public/private organization to which the GoA has essentially "outsourced" road safety issues. RSB analyzes road data, proposes policy, issues reports, and maintains national road safety statistics. The following cable is based on information provided by RSB Vice Director Armin Kaltenegger. END SUMMARY. ¶2. In Austria, using mobile phones while driving has been prohibited by law since 1999. The Road Travel Act Article 102 (2) reads as follows: "Phone calls while driving (NOTE: interpreted to include texting) are prohibited without using hands-free equipment." The fine for violations -- originally just EUR 25 -- was doubled in 2008, but remains low relative to fines for other unsafe behaviors such as speeding. If distracted driving triggers "grave driving errors" an administrative fine of up to EUR 2,180 can be imposed; however, cellphone use while driving is not/not included in Austria's cumulative "point system" that leads to license revocation of after repeated violations. RSB and other traffic experts have pressed to include distracted driving in that system. ¶3. RSB believes that higher fines for phone use in cars may have contributed to a reduction in accidents and fatalities in 2008 and 2009, but there is no statistical evidence since road accident statistics do not code whether accidents are "caused" by phone use. Since distraction and negligence are recognized to be number one overall cause of road accidents, RSB acknowledges that mobile phones remain a significant safety problem. The number of tickets issued phone use while driving has risen markedly (86,000 in 2006, 95,000 in 2007, 116,000 in 2008). Austrian Poll Data on Phone Use While Driving - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. According to a 2009 RSB study, 78% of all drivers in Austria use cell phones in the car. 48% of drivers have hands-free equipment in the car, but only 53% of those with the equipment "always" use it. (Note: RSB points at results of international studies according to which using hands-free equipment has not significantly reduced accidents stemming from distraction). ¶5. While four out of ten polled in Austria acknowledge that using a phone hampers driving significantly, 32% say they read text messages at the wheel; 14% compose messages. According to RSB, there appears to be an increasing pattern of texting and reading messages while driving in Austria. In its public "Driving Safe" campaigns, RSB advocates parking the car before texting. Point of Contact - - - - - - - - - ¶6. RSB Vice Director Armin Kaltenegger is an appropriate contact person if Washington seeks Austrian expertise on distracted driving and related safety issues. Kaltenegger can be reached at e-mail: armin.kaltenegger@kfv.at or telephone 43-664-3322683. EACHO