2/3 of those killed in road accidents are pedestrians and cyclists

Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes announced on Monday the launch of the national campaign "La route pour tout le monde, les règles aussi" (The road is for everyone, the rules too), aimed at protecting the most vulnerable road users - pedestrians and cyclists.

The reason was alarming data: in 2024, pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 67 per cent of fatalities and 54 per cent of seriously injured people in road accidents in Luxembourg, although their share in the total traffic flow is much lower.

The campaign focuses on four specific situations where breaking the rules often leads to tragedies:

• Overtaking a cyclist: motorists must maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres when overtaking,
• Blind spot: most collisions occur when turning right, especially by lorries,
• Ignoring red lights: by both drivers and cyclists,
• Crossing fords: unlike classic pedestrian crossings, cyclists do not have priority over cars at fords.

At the launch of the campaign, Jo Klein from ProVélo emphasised the importance of not only raising awareness, but also of real change: developing a network of cycle lanes and introducing additional speed limits for cars. He also insisted on the need for real distance control when overtaking cyclists.

Isabelle Medinger, director of the road safety association (Sécurité routière), supported the initiative, recalling: "Conflicts on the road always hit the most vulnerable."

The new campaign is not just an information campaign, but a call for mutual responsibility. At a time when vulnerable road users are increasingly being victimised, a reminder of the basic rules and increased enforcement are essential to reduce deaths on Luxembourg's roads.