In 2024, the Austrian Federal Police recorded 6,145,227 cases of speeding, either through official reports or on-the-spot fines. This marks a slight decrease of 0.2 percent compared to 2023 (6,160,271), according to the Ministry of the Interior. Since March 1, 2023, police have also had the authority to temporarily confiscate vehicles in cases of extreme speeding. By December 31, a total of 171 vehicles had been seized on the spot.

Additionally, Austrian federal officers conducted 1,876,191 alcohol checks in 2024, representing a 1 percent drop from the previous year (1,895,748). The number of alcohol-related driving violations decreased by 5.9 percent to 28,867 (down from 30,683 in 2023). Drug-impaired driving offenses also fell by 5.2 percent, with 8,227 drivers reported (2023: 8,676).

Increased Violations for Tailgating, Fewer for Phone Use at the Wheel

A total of 130,077 violations for not keeping a safe distance were recorded, a 17.1 percent increase from 2023 (111,087). Meanwhile, 115,172 drivers were penalized for using a phone without a hands-free device, down 11.3 percent compared to the previous year.

Seatbelt violations totaled 97,881, a 3.2 percent drop. Cases of inadequate child safety in vehicles remained nearly unchanged: 7,911 in 2024 versus 7,979 in 2023.

Truck and Hazardous Goods Inspections

In the heavy goods transport sector, 224,464 violations involving trucks and buses were reported—about the same as in 2023 (224,230). Most involved technical defects in bodywork, brakes, or tires (88,577), followed by breaches of driving/rest times (61,805), overloading (32,073), and unsecured cargo (5,420). A total of 26,842 vehicles were prohibited from continuing their journey due to such defects (2023: 28,198), a 4.8 percent decrease. Of the 7,341 hazardous goods transports inspected, 456 were stopped due to imminent danger (2023: 517).

“The job of the police is to protect those who follow the rules and remove reckless drivers, tailgaters, and intoxicated drivers from the roads,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). He promised that enforcement will continue consistently in 2025.

The Federal Police act on behalf of the provincial governments, which are constitutionally responsible for enforcing road traffic laws. Data on formal vehicle confiscations or offenses not reported by the Federal Police are not included in this traffic monitoring report.