"The probability of being injured in an accident in the Mettmann district is significantly lower than in the rest of North Rhine-Westphalia," said District Administrator Thomas Hendele, summing up the Mettmann district's traffic accident statistics for 2023 presented on Monday, March 18, 2024.
In total, the police in the Mettmann district registered 13,255 traffic accidents last year, which represents a slight increase (by 0.61%) compared to the previous year. With the return of mobility after the coronavirus pandemic, the increase in traffic accidents has thus been confirmed - even if the figures are still well below the 2019 level (14,613 traffic accidents).
Despite the increase in traffic accidents in the most densely populated district in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the number of casualties fell by 4.59% to 1,599 (2022: 1,676). "Fortunately, the so-called accident frequency rate, i.e. the number of accidents per 100,000 inhabitants, of 326 is even significantly below the level of the state (399). It is therefore still safe to travel on the roads in the district of Mettmann," continued District Administrator Thomas Hendele.
With a look at road safety, the head of the police department, LPD Thomas Schulte, also added that the district of Mettmann ranks seventh out of 47 police authorities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Nevertheless, the head of department is concerned about the number of road fatalities: "Even if we can record three fewer fatalities in 2023 than in 2022 with nine fatal accidents, this figure still shocks me. Because behind every death there is a fate, there are affected relatives."
The head of the traffic service, EPHK Thomas Obst, described in his detailed explanations on the municipal comparison of accident figures in the Mettmann district that the figures are declining in eight out of ten cities. Only Heiligenhaus and Mettmann saw an increase of 44.9 percent and 40.86 percent respectively.
In 2023, pedestrians in the district of Mettmann were mostly affected as casualties in road accidents. Here, the number rose by 14 percent from 197 to 224. Looking at the age groups, children were the most frequent victims of road accidents, with an increase of 17 percent to 168 cases, while the number of young adults and senior citizens affected fell. Thomas Obst cited the remarkably long period of bad weather in autumn as a possible cause for the statistical development: "We will significantly increase our 'Safety through visibility' prevention approach in this regard in order to raise awareness among pedestrians and prevent potential dangers."
Another important aspect of our prevention work in 2024 will be pedelec training, as the number of pedelec riders involved in accidents rose by eleven percent to 179 in 2023 (2022: 162 accidents).
While the number of hit-and-run accidents recorded a slight downward trend of 1.4% to 3,747 hit-and-run accidents, the clearance rate also rose by a pleasing 2.3% to around 38% (2022: 36%). The clearance rate for hit-and-run accidents with personal injury even rose by 10 percent to 62 percent, although the number of cases also increased slightly by 2 percent to 140.
EPHK Thomas Obst concluded by pointing out the 5 percent increase in traffic accidents caused under the influence of narcotics in 2023: "With the upcoming legalization of cannabis, I would like to issue an urgent warning about the dangers that can be associated with consumption and a potentially impaired ability to drive as a result." The head of the traffic service announced increased checks to raise awareness and ensure the safety of all road users.
The 2023 traffic accident statistics are attached to this press release as a pdf document.