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DE RUEHVI #0198 0541237
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R 231237Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4219
INFO RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC

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