Tragic accident in Angermünde: 83-year-old dies after collision

Tragic accident in Angermünde: 83-year-old dies after collision

Angermünde, Deutschland - It was on Tuesday afternoon when a tragic traffic accident in Angermünde, Uckermark, occurred. An 83-year-old driver came from her road on Landstrasse 285 between the districts of Günterberg and Biesenbrow and collided with another vehicle for an unknown cause. The Situation was dramatic: both drivers, the 83-year-old and a 51-year-old lady, were caught in the wreck, which required immediate rescue measures. Only the 51-year-old could be flown to the hospital by helicopter, while the older driver succumbed to her serious injuries on site. A criminal police team has taken up the investigation to clarify the exact course of the accident, and both vehicles were ensured, such as rbb24 reported.

had the 83-year-old already had health problems or was the danger in road traffic simply not present? These questions not only arise according to this tragic incident, but are also part of a major discussion about older drivers. According to current statistics, people aged 65 and over have the main debt of traffic accidents with personal injury in over 68 percent of the cases. Especially for the over 75 year olds, this value is even 77 percent, which is the highest rate of all ages, such as Tagesschau.

factors caused by the accident in older drivers

statistics show that many older drivers are often associated with a precedence and mistakes when turning, turning or reversing. A common problem with these accidents is also the non -compliance with the safety distance. In 2022, for example, only 1.1 percent of the older drivers were alcoholic, which clearly shows that other factors play a more important role. Overall, older people are less frequently involved in accidents because they take less in road traffic, but they often have a disproportionately responsibility for the severe consequences, such as Destatis clearly shows.

An additional argument for the attention of older drivers is the most alarming traffic jams: Seniors make up 14.5 percent of all victims, but they are disproportionately affected with 36.7 percent of fatalities in accidents. Another disturbing detail is the high probability that people over the age of 65 will not survive a traffic accident-this is 1.9 percent of the victims compared to 0.6 percent of those under 65. One could almost say that safety in road traffic becomes the question of age.

discussion about regulations for older drivers

The debate about new regulations for older drivers is fueled by this accident. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing spoke out against a regular mandatory self -assessment for older drivers, as he considers this to be unnecessary bureaucracy. Nevertheless, the EU Transport Minister wants to collect reports on new driver's license guidelines that could also include requirements for older people in driving suitability. The EU Commission proposed that people over the age of 70 should fill out a self-assessment every five years or have them examined by a doctor.

It will ultimately be an exciting challenge whether this leads to an improvement in traffic safety. One thing is certain: After the tragic accident in Angermünde, many eyes are aimed at the guidelines and the responsibility of older drivers. The case could be a wake -up call for all road users to take responsibility not only for themselves, but also for the others on the street.