The bicycle police of the Graz City Police Command have been on duty since May 1st and took stock on Tuesday.
From May up to and including July, a total of 453 preliminary alcohol tests and 66 alcohol tests were carried out. In the field of administrative offences, 626 offenses were reported, 56 of them for driving in an alcohol-impaired state. In addition, 1853 organ mandates were raised. According to the police, empirical values from priority checks have shown that the number of cyclists who steered their vehicle in a state impaired by alcohol is relatively high. Apparently remarkable is the trend of deliberately not driving a motor vehicle in the knowledge of possible alcohol intoxication, but instead switching to a bicycle or an e-scooter Injuries or deaths in Graz are attributable to the group of cyclists. In absolute numbers, there were 595 accidents, some of which were serious. This number could even increase this year due to increased driving of bicycles under the influence of alcohol,” says Brigadier Thomas Heiland, the city police commander of Graz. “We therefore see the urgent need to counteract this negative trend with immediate effect and until further notice with additional, more focused checks by our bicycle police. Cycling in a state impaired by alcohol is not a minor offence. It is not only punishable, but above all dangerous.” Bicycles as a future Bicycle traffic and bicycles as a means of transport of the future are currently the focus of the Graz police in the further development of traffic police strategies and their implementation. The Graz City Police Command is also in active contact with the Road Safety Board, which, with its expertise, is a strong partner in the design of safety in Graz’s road traffic.
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