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Drugs behind the wheel: 30-year-old flees after accident in Rüting!
A 30-year-old driver causes an accident in northwest Mecklenburg, flees and tests positive for drugs. Police are investigating.
Drugs behind the wheel: 30-year-old flees after accident in Rüting!
An unexpected incident occurred on Tuesday evening in tranquil Rüting, a small town in the northwest Mecklenburg district. A 30-year-old man lost control of his vehicle and not only caused an accident, but also ran away. How tagesschau.de According to reports, the car left the road, crossed a grass verge and a cycle path and left a badly damaged vehicle behind, which then had to be towed away.
After the accident, the driver fled, but was quickly found by police at a gas station in Upahl. A drug test revealed a positive result for cocaine. This not only has legal consequences for the man, but also raises a number of critical questions about his fitness to drive. The police have started an investigation into the matter of endangering road traffic and violating the Narcotics Act.
Road safety
Unfortunately, incidents like the one in Rüting are not the exception. In 2023, an average of eight people per day lost their lives in traffic. More than 1,000 people were injured. The main causes of accidents are drug and alcohol use and distracted driving, such as downvomgas.de determines. Manfred Wirsch, President of the German Road Safety Council, emphasizes the need for education and increased controls.
In particular, drugs such as cannabis significantly impair driving ability by slowing down reaction times and making coordination more difficult. Every day, around eight accidents involving personal injury occur due to drug use. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you wait at least 24 hours after consuming cannabis before getting behind the wheel.
The numbers speak volumes
In 2023, the number of traffic accidents rose by 4.5 percent, with 15,652 accidents involving alcohol, the second highest number in the last ten years. This resulted in 198 deaths and over 4,200 seriously injured people. More and more drivers, especially younger ones, are using their smartphones while driving. A full 85 percent of 18 to 29 year olds are affected, resulting in 977 accidents with personal injuries and 20 deaths.
In order to increase road safety, new posters are currently being put up on motorways with the motto “Don’t drink and drive” and “Don’t text and drive”. The aim of these campaigns is to motivate all road users to adopt Vision Zero and to promote careful driving. Ultimately, the responsibility for safety on the roads lies in our hands.