[Increasing Number of Road Traffic Fatalities in Germany - Turnaround or Snap-Shot].

For the first time since 20 years, the number of road accident fatalities in 2011 increased on German roads compared to earlier periods. The presented paper submitted by the expert group for accident prevention investigates and discusses possible reasons for the observed increase in road traffic fatalities. Climate changes as well as changes in economic environment, and technological progress in car and passenger safety are identified as possible reasons for the observed increase. Mentioning the "Decade of Action for Road Safety" initiated by the UNO and coordinated by the WHO, the overall goal is a worldwide reduction of accident related road fatalities. But prognostic calculations predict an asymptotic approximation to a limit of road fatalities. To achieve a reduction by half until 2020 intense collaboration and disproportional expenditure are necessary. From the authors' point of view the current increase of traffic fatalities in Germany is rated as a snapshot rather than a turnaround.