Sicherheit im Verkehr: Autobahn-Notrufsäulen stehen auf dem Prüfstand

Berlin - The emergency call boxes along German autobahns are becoming increasingly rare due to the widespread use of mobile phones, according to the Rheinische Post. The Autobahn GmbH is evaluating whether to keep the current emergency system in its current form. This comes from a statement by Christian Hirte, the Staatssekretär, who said there has been a significant decline in the number of emergency calls through the system in response to a parliamentary inquiry.

The proliferation of mobile phones has led to the emergency call boxes being used less and less, so the aim is to reduce costs while maintaining the level of road safety, according to the Autobahn GmbH spokesperson. The plans were confirmed by a spokesperson for the Autobahn GmbH. With the introduction of technological developments such as the automatic emergency call system eCall and the widespread use of mobile phones, the future of the existing system is being evaluated.

Currently, there are approximately 17,000 emergency call boxes across Germany, with the costs for operation, maintenance, and the emergency call center totaling 4.5 million euros in 2025, up from 8.2 million euros the previous year.