Chaos in Ulm: 76-year-old rest through the car wash and hit the wall!

Chaos in Ulm: 76-year-old rest through the car wash and hit the wall!

A worrying incident occurred on June 11, 2025 in Ulm when a 76-year-old driver stepped onto the accelerator pedal during the washing process. The incident occurred at around 10 a.m. in the car wash in Ulm apprenticeship when the man passed the first station and then accelerated. The car broke through the car wash and crashed into a opposite house wall with full force. Fortunately, the driver was not injured, but an employee of the car wash was only able to save himself. The total damage is estimated at around 7,000 euros, with 2,000 euros in the car and 5,000 euros on the building. The police initiated the investigation into the risk of road traffic and confiscated the driving license of the 76-year-old. The reasons for the drivers' sudden behavior are currently unclear, so reports the Schwäbische Post .

The incident also throws a light on the most common challenges and risks with which older drivers are faced. In 2021, about 22.1 % of the population in Germany were at least 65 years old. If you look at the accident statistics, it turns out that older people are less likely to be involved in accidents than younger drivers. 66,812 people aged 65 and over were involved in accidents, which makes 14.5 % of all those involved in the accident. However, while the accident sharing is lower, older people often suffer disproportionately from the more serious consequences of an accident, since 24.8 % of the older road users who have been injured were seriously injured. This data clarifies that older people have to be protected in the traffic situation, as the Statistical offices

Investigations and traffic safety

The police immediately started the investigation after the incident in Ulm and pursues the risk of road traffic. Criminal consequences could follow the driver, especially since his driver's license has already been confiscated. The incident illustrates the need for a critical examination of the behavior patterns of older drivers.

statistics show that in accidents with seniors there are often different causes than among younger road users. 68.2 % of the older drivers have the main debt of accidents. The main causes lie, among other things, disregarding the right of way and misconduct when turning or reversing. This information makes it clear how important safe driving and responsible behavior in road traffic is. Updated data from 2021 show that older people who take part in road traffic as pedestrians bear the risk of higher injuries.

The local authorities and traffic safety organizations are now faced with the challenge of developing measures that can reduce the risk of accidents among older drivers and increase their safety in road traffic. The incident in Ulm is an urgent appeal to raise awareness of the risks and responsibility in road traffic so that such incidents can be avoided in the future.