How is VGF fighting to reduce accidents on Frankfurt's tram tracks and save lives now
The Frankfurt am Main Transport Company (VGF), which operates an extensive network spanning approximately 220 kilometers utilizing 283 subway cars and 115 trams, has once again initiated a comprehensive accident prevention campaign. This new effort employs posters displayed across the city, alongside digital and social media channels, to urge all road users to exercise heightened vigilance and caution. This appeal is particularly critical in areas where car, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic intersects with the rail transport system. The VGF underscores the immutable reality that trams, unlike other vehicles, are unable to swerve to avoid obstacles and require a substantial braking distance, which can extend up to 30 meters when traveling at roughly 50 km/h. Common causes of these collisions include inattentiveness when crossing tracks, running red lights, or distraction resulting from the use of mobile phones. The campaign aims to vividly illustrate the inherent dangers by narrating the "stories behind the stories" of various tragic incidents.This is reported by NewsToday24 editorial team, citing So Frankfurt.
In prior years, the VGF had already implemented several structural measures designed to enhance safety at crossings, such as installing highly visible signage, larger traffic lights, and painting the asphalt yellow to draw attention. Furthermore, specific "Z-barriers" have been installed on traffic islands, prompting pedestrians to walk briefly toward the tracks, which allows for a better view of approaching trams. The freshly launched campaign, whose second phase began on Monday, December 15, features powerful imagery intended to resonate with different age groups. These displays include "crime scene images" of damaged personal items, such as bright red headphones or a sports bag, accompanied by the thought-provoking question, "What happened on...?"
Wolfgang Siefert, Frankfurt’s Head of Mobility, emphasized that traffic safety represents a "central task" for the city administration and conveyed his gratitude to the VGF for its vital prevention work, which he stated urgently raises necessary public awareness. Steffen Geers, Managing Director of the VGF, added emphatically that "every single accident is one too many." The VGF has been dedicated to prevention for many years, maintaining close collaboration with emergency services, police, and the city to implement both structural improvements and educational programs, particularly targeting students in the fifth to seventh grades, as well as senior citizens. Moreover, the company maintains a robust crisis intervention system ready for activation in the event of an accident. A subsequent campaign motif is scheduled for release on advertising spaces early in 2026.
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