How dangerous are older people in road traffic?

How dangerous are older people in road traffic?

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Lately there have been increasing complaints that the tone between people is always rougher. This is also evident in road traffic. If we, as a society, deal with each other more aggressive, this also affects road traffic. There is a direct connection between fighting in summer baths and the behavior in traffic. Instead of discussing things peacefully, many people feel personally attacked and therefore quickly use violence. Police and judges can sing a song about the violent road users. Interestingly, this development is not so clear in surveys. This could be related to the fact that most people give "socially desirable" answers when asked about aggression. You probably don't believe the outbreaks you are able to do.

Siegfried Brockmann, Germany's best -known accident researcher, heads accident research in the overall association of the insurance industry in Berlin. He explains that despite the noticeable aggressiveness in road traffic, the number of victims in the long -term comparison is declining. This is relativized when you look at the mileage. Statistically, in Germany, the individual only causes an accident with injuries every 300 years. Most people even never cause an accident, while others cause several accidents. This is due to the approximately ten to 15 percent of road users who are responsible for most problems. This data can be derived from the Flensburg Point Carte. People who already have several entries are very likely to be conspicuous again. Brockmann suggests that instead of further increasing the fines, to award more points so that such people lose their driving license faster. Anyone who still drives should be punished hard by the judiciary.

It is known that you are hardly caught in road traffic. In Berlin it becomes clear how, of course, at least one car drives over the traffic lights at red. According to studies, around 700 traffic offenses remain undetected, while only one is discovered. But if you keep challenging your luck, you will be caught at some point. It would therefore make sense to award more points so that the driver's license is not only withdrawn after the fourth severe violation.

The cut in the red has developed and began with pedestrians and cyclists. Brockmann explains that many pedestrians and cyclists go over the traffic lights at red because they think they have everything under control and nothing will happen. This behavior is now also spreading among drivers, but with a much greater risk potential.

Brockmann does not comment on political questions, but emphasizes that the conflict between cars and cyclists on main roads is increased by the new Berlin Mobility Act. He suggests concentrating the bicycle traffic as far as possible in the side network, so that bicycle roads are created without through traffic with speed limitation and sufficient intervals to park. In his view, wheel strips on main roads are more of a question of comfort than a security question.

Initiatives demand to improve subjective security in order to encourage more people to ride a bike or let children go to school on foot. Brockmann rejects the term "subjective security" because security is always objective and everything else is a feeling. He explains that longer green times for pedestrians would help, but not a countdown display during the clearance time, since these older people cannot do anything and younger people could encourage them to walk across the street at red.

The number of accidents with the participation of seniors has increased sharply for years. There is a risk if older people drive a car. The risk of causing an accident increases significantly for people over 75 and over 80 exponentially for people. However, the driving licenses of seniors can only be withdrawn due to individual problems and not due to statistics. Brockmann supports the concept of feedback trips, in which seniors receive recommendations and tips for your individual traffic situation. It would be great progress if such feedback trips were offered by default.