Substantial increase of fatalities in Swedish traffic

"The substantial increase of fatalities in Swedish traffic"

"the 2018 was the deadliest year on the roads in almost ten years. Now, the 14 agencies together to counter the development – where the heavy traffic and the old cars are singled out as risks."

"In 2018, died in 324 people in road traffic accidents in Sweden. This is an increase of 29 per cent from 2017. In particular, there was a strong increase of the number of dead in head-on collisions, where heavy traffic was involved."

"– The heavy traffic is rarely at fault for the accident, but the consequences are devastating, " says Maria Krafft."

"Since the year 2000, the heavy traffic on Swedish roads has increased by around 40 per cent. The increased deaths may be a beginning of the consequences of it. Extremåret 2018 can also be an exception, it is still too early to say, according to Maria Krafft."

"in Addition to the heavy traffic, older cars are involved in a large proportion of the fatal accidents. Of all the people who died in cars in 2018 was 30 per cent of those in a car that had been manufactured before the year 2000."

"– And the cars only account for about one percent of the trafikarbetet. Clearly, it may be worthwhile to look at the opportunity to scrap older cars, from a socio-economic perspective. They have not at all the same safety equipment as the newer cars, " says Maria Krafft."

"It greatly increased the deaths are a major setback for the target of maximum 220 fatalities persons in traffic to the year 2020. The assessment now is that the target with the largest probability will not be reached."

"to counteract the negative developments are made for the first time, a joint plan where the 14 agencies to collaborate in order to achieve increased road safety. The plan will focus on three areas: speed, sobriety and safe cycling. It is the actions that are estimated to save an additional 40 to 50 lives."

"– We make a concentrated effort, and we start not only from 2018. It we attach importance to are the things which have quick impact. To reduce the average speed by a mile an hour saves 15 lives per year, for example, " says Maria Krafft."

"But not everything goes in the wrong direction. Among other things, reduced the number of serious injuries in traffic over the previous year."

"– The severe damage takes place in environments other than fatalities, and where we see good development, " says Maria Krafft."