Exhibition in barracks to deter young racers
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In the Schwarzenberg barracks in Wals-Siezenheim (Flachgau), real accident wrecks and shadow figures of killed young people are intended to draw attention to the issue of road safety. With the soldiers, the action also reaches the majority of those who caused the accident – young men.
The “Owe vom Gas” campaign shows the fate of seven young people who lost their lives on the road. Her story is written in life-size outlines. In addition to the seven shadow figures, there are also two accident wrecks in front of the soldiers’ home in the Schwarzenberg barracks.
Tell the victims and their relatives
The stories told by Paralympic World Champion Thomas Geierspichler, who has been paralyzed from the waist down since a car accident in his youth, left the greatest impression on the young soldiers. Sabine Koch-Peterbauer also spoke to the young men. Her daughter had been killed by a speeder.
“It really touched me, especially the way my mother talked. You slow down drastically after something like that,” said 22-year-old Matthias Gassner. Jonas Schönberger from Nußdorf am Attersee also listened to those affected: “The impression lasts for a long time, especially when you can read people’s stories or how the mother spoke of the young woman. It’s scary, especially when you’re leaving behind the whole family.”
Speeders are mostly young men
The action in the Schwarzenberg barracks is part of the “Owa vom Gas” campaign, which is aimed at speeding up traffic. The barracks were deliberately chosen as the exhibition venue, said Stefan Schnöll, the Salzburg Transport Council (ÖVP): “We see that we have a target audience that is particularly at risk: young men. Being there is very special for us. We are expecting a lot, because these young men are not only often affected, but also multipliers in their circle of friends. If they pass on this message, namely that speeding on the road is life-threatening, then a lot has already been achieved.”
“Owe vom Gas”: Prevention works
In recent years there have been repeated campaigns to increase road safety for young drivers. In addition to the multi-phase driver’s license, educational work was also carried out. The number of road deaths would show that the prevention work works, said Martina Schlegel-Lanz, director of the ÖAMTC Salzburg: “If you think back about ten years ago, we had 14 dead young people on the road and a year ago there were two.” The exhibition in the Schwarzenberg barracks is planned for a month.
“Owe vom Gas” in the Schwarzenberg barracks