Basi supports new initiative: #mehrAchtung im Straßenverkehr
An initiative implemented by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) and the German Road Safety Council (DVR) aims to ensure #MoreAttention in road traffic. Basi, the Federal Working Group for Safety and Health at Work, is supporting the initiative as a partner as part of the “Slow down” campaign. The aim is to increase road safety. A survey carried out on behalf of #mehrAchtung confirms this: More than 80 percent of respondents believe that mindful behavior can greatly or very greatly reduce the risk of accidents on the road. The survey also shows that there is a particular lack of respect in road traffic compared to other areas of life (Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH, 2023).
#mehrAchtung raises awareness for more consideration and respect
“Road safety is teamwork. With our pact for road safety, we are promoting considerate interaction with one another – whether on a bicycle or motorcycle, on foot, in a bus, truck or car. We are all called upon to be vigilant and ensure good cooperation on roads and cycle paths. We need #morerespect in road traffic – more attention, consideration and respect,” said Federal Minister of Transport Dr. Volker Wissing. The initiative’s messages are conveyed via campaign motifs with the banner “Let’s bring #morerespect onto the road” and slogans such as “We ask for your attention” or “Car, bike, truck. We’re all in the same boat”. They can be seen nationwide on digital outdoor surfaces, in print media and on social media and are intended to reach all road users.
The motto of the initiative combines the dimensions from the German Road Traffic Act (StVO) in one term: respect in the sense of caution in dangerous situations as well as considerate and respectful behavior towards others. As part of the campaign, a population survey was conducted in collaboration with the Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH (infas). More than 2,000 people living in Germany were surveyed in February and March 2023. For the first time, the study provides results on the perception of respect in road traffic. The survey not only revealed that particularly attentive road users perceive positive experiences more often, but also that more than 60 percent of respondents believe that the considerate and attentive behavior of other road users has a positive influence on their own behavior. “Emotions influence our decisions on the road and our driving style. They determine how we behave towards others. As a road user, I too am a potential stress factor for my fellow human beings and can contribute to a positive traffic climate by showing more consideration and respect,” says road safety expert Hardy Holte, who is using his expertise to help analyze the results of the study.
Basi as part of the partner alliance
The special thing about the initiative is that it is supported by a large partner alliance whose composition reflects the diversity of road traffic. The broad social alliance, to which Basi belongs, is made up of more than 50 relevant institutions and associations from the fields of road traffic, mobility and road safety in Germany and ensures that the messages are spread further.
Further information can be found on the homepage of the #mehrAchtung initiative.