Initiative details
Serious accidents involving the so-called “blind spot” of heavy commercial vehicles, as well as a safety summit convened years ago by the city government, prompted the Vienna Chamber of Commerce to take initiative as early as 2017. The goal of the traffic safety project "The Dangers of the Blind Spot” is to raise awareness among pupils (3rd and 4th grade, by the age of 8-12 years) about potential sources of danger through theoretical instruction and then to train proper behavior in the area of the blind spot at a practical training station.
Initiative date
Who was/is your target audience?
Children 0-16
Parents
Educational staff
Pedestrians
Topic
Create awareness
Education in school or in community organizations
Knowledge building and sharing
Training
Organisation details
Wirtschaftskammer Wien | Sparte Transport und Verkehr
Association
Austria
Vienna
Contact name
Bernhard Popberger
Telephone number
01 514 50 - 3721
sparteverkehr@wkw.at
Website link
Project activities
If you work together with external partners, list the most important partners and briefly describe their role.
Together with strategic partners – the Vienna Directorate of Education (Bildungsdirektion Wien), the Road Safety Board (Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit,KfV), truck and bus companies that each provide a vehicle for the practical station, and Vienna driving schools – several action days have already been organized in numerous districts of Vienna in the past. During these events, the target group was introduced to the dangers of the “blind spot” in a playful and engaging way.
Please describe the project activities you carried/are carrying out and the time period over which these were implemented.
Theoretical part
In coordination with the Vienna Directorate of Education and following educational principles, a Vienna driving school instructor created a lecture using various media (animated graphics, films, etc.) that presents both the dangers and the benefits of heavy commercial vehicles (buses, trucks).
Practical part
On flat surfaces around a parked truck and bus, the “blind spot” was marked and explained in detail by instructors from the Road Safety Board (KfV). The schoolchildren were shown exactly which areas pose the risk of not being seen.
Special emphasis was placed on perspective-taking. All pupils – and also attending teachers – had the opportunity to take on both the role of the driver and that of the pedestrian.
In coordination with the Vienna Directorate of Education and following educational principles, a Vienna driving school instructor created a lecture using various media (animated graphics, films, etc.) that presents both the dangers and the benefits of heavy commercial vehicles (buses, trucks).
Practical part
On flat surfaces around a parked truck and bus, the “blind spot” was marked and explained in detail by instructors from the Road Safety Board (KfV). The schoolchildren were shown exactly which areas pose the risk of not being seen.
Special emphasis was placed on perspective-taking. All pupils – and also attending teachers – had the opportunity to take on both the role of the driver and that of the pedestrian.
In terms of implementation, what worked well and what challenges did you need to overcome?
Since the event on May 15, 2025, the project has been held – and will continue to be held – at the Austria Campus in Vienna’s 2nd district. This location offers both lecture rooms for the theoretical part and nearby suitable parking areas for the truck and bus training stations. In the past, it was a challenge to find suitable locations (rooms for theoretical lessons on the one side, and nearby spaces for the truck and bus on the other)
Evaluation
Please summarise how you have evaluated the initiative’s impact (e.g. social media reach, survey, feedback forms, statistics).
The evaluation of the project and its impact is based on the number of school classes and schoolchildren reached, which clearly reflects the success of the initiative. Furthermore, traffic statistics from the city of Vienna underscore the effectiveness and positive outcomes of the project.
What has been the effect of the activities?
Since 2017, several thousand children have been reached. According to the Austrian Federal Ministry, in 2024 no children aged 6 to 15 died in school route accidents. Moreover, statistics show that no fatalities occurred among children aged 0–14 on their way to school. There was also an 8.1% decrease in accidents involving school children aged 6–15, and an 18.4% reduction in injuries in that age group.
Please briefly explain why your initiative is a good example of improving road safety.
The opportunity to climb into the driver’s cab or sit behind the wheel of a bus also contributed to a positive perception of trucks as transport vehicles and buses as means of passenger transport.
Not a single child – nor any teacher – missed the chance to sit behind the wheel in the driver’s cab with a beaming smile.
Not a single child – nor any teacher – missed the chance to sit behind the wheel in the driver’s cab with a beaming smile.
How have you shared information about your project and its results?
Our accompanying press efforts garnered considerable media attention, further amplifying the topic. Coverage appeared on television, social-, online and in print media.
