An injured senior after accident in Andernach - what is the risk of age?

An injured senior after accident in Andernach - what is the risk of age?

On May 10, 2025, a serious traffic accident occurred in Andernach, Mayen-Koblenz district, in which an 80-year-old driver was injured. The senior joined his vehicle against a parked car, with his vehicle tilting the side. The exact cause of the accident has so far been unclear. The fire brigade had to intervene and cut open the roof of the vehicle to free the man, who was then taken to the hospital with an arm break. The total damage is estimated at around 10,000 euros, and the road had to be completely blocked during the rescue work.

During the accident, two more cars were affected in addition to the vehicle of the senior: the parked vehicle, against which he crashed into, and another car on which it was pushed. Road safety for older drivers has become increasingly important in recent years. Data from the Federal Statistical Office show that older drivers (65+) are more often involved in accidents and often carry the main debt. In 2022, around 68.7 percent of the at least 65-year-olds were caused by traffic accidents with personal injury, in which at least 75-year-olds rose to 76.6 percent.

age and frequency of accident

The risk for older drivers to be involved in an accident or to suffer serious injuries is significantly higher. According to the figures, over 52,000 people aged 65 and over were involved in traffic accidents in 2022, 1,023 of which were died and 12,350 were seriously injured. Seniors therefore make up 14.5 percent of all victims, but pay 36.7 percent of the racing dead. In addition, the likelihood of not surviving a traffic accident is almost three times as high for over 65-year-olds as with younger drivers.

One of the reasons for the lower accident participation in older people lies in their lower participation in road traffic. However, the statistics show that they are often less forward -looking when driving: frequent misconduct is shown in disregarding the right of way and turning and turning. Tagesschau reports that compliance with the safety distance in older drivers often leaves something to be desired.

political debates on traffic safety

In the political debate, measures are discussed to increase traffic safety for older drivers. Transport Minister Volker Wissing, however, currently rejects a regular mandatory self -assessment for older drivers and describes them as unnecessary bureaucracy. At the same time, new regulations for older drivers are being considered at the EU level, including an proposed self-assessment for driving suitability every five years for people over 70 years. Destatis also emphasizes that households with older main earners have a car less often, which may lead to a lower number of trips and thus less accidents.