Sicherheit in Autobahn- und Strassentunneln - Fonds für ...

82 Zusammenfassung / Résumé / Riassunto / Abstract
4. Road safety in motorway and road tunnels
Motorways and main roads are among the safest types of roads. Based on the distance people travel
on them, these roads have fewer accidents and there are fewer casualties and fatalities than on rural
or urban roads. Nevertheless, since 1992 the average number of casualties each year has been
approximately 2,700, accompanied by more than 90 fatalities.
While motorway and road tunnels were clearly safer than open roads at the end of the 1980s, the
gap between them in terms of accident-victim rates and the severity of accidents has closed today.
In contrast, the accident rates in tunnels have still remained much lower. In recent years, the annual
averages for more than 600 tunnel accidents were around 280 persons injured and around 8
fatalities.
After the catastrophes in the Gotthard, Mont Blanc and Tauern tunnels, the interest of the general
public in road tunnel safety was alerted. In its report of May 2000, the task force subsequently
deployed by the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
(UVEK/ETEC) came to the conclusion that, among other things, although the danger of accidents
in road tunnels should be taken seriously, it should not be considered a cause for panic. In their
opinion, tunnels were among the safest parts of the road system. In contrast to this, the effects of
accidents in tunnels were frequently more severe than on open roads. This aspect became a topic of
renewed interest following the events of 24 October 2001 in the Gotthard road tunnel.
The aim of this study by the bfu was to pinpoint measures to increase road safety in tunnels to
supplement the recommendations of the Tunnel Task Force. In particular, the aspects of operation
and infrastructure were to be investigated and supplemented with psychological observations based
on perception.
The empirical part of the investigation was planned, firstly, as a retrospective survey and, secondly,
as an analysis of accidents with a statistical evaluation. A survey conducted among all cantonal
authorities also inquired into the defects and influences that appeared relevant to those responsible
for tunnels. The aim of the accident analysis and its statistical evaluation was to determine whether
or to what extent any features based on design and operation had an influence on accidents and, in
particular, on the number of casualties.
A total of 23 cantonal representatives were included in the survey (3 cantons have no motorway or
road tunnels within their jurisdiction). According to estimates given by those interviewed,
inattentiveness on the part of drivers, a failure to maintain a safe braking distance between vehicles