Vorarlberg drivers' low car pride highlighted as Europe grapples with worsening traffic jams

A recent Helvetia insurance study of Austrian motorists finds that drivers in Vorarlberg are the most safety‑focused and the least emotionally attached to their cars. Ninety‑nine percent always wear a seatbelt and 94 % consider themselves safe drivers, but only 55 % are proud of their vehicle, far below the Austrian average of 69 %. Likewise, just 19 % say their car reflects their personality and only 12 % give their car a nickname.

At the same time, the TV program WELTjournal aired a documentary titled “Europe in Traffic Jam – Life on the Motorway” (July 15, 2026) that examines chronic congestion on key Alpine routes such as the Brenner and Gotthard passes. More than seven million vehicles traverse these corridors each year, resulting in over 200 jam‑days and traffic queues exceeding 20 km. Drivers increasingly divert to local roads, burdening villages with noise, emissions and long queues, while staff who keep the motorways running are featured in a follow‑up segment on France’s A1 highway.