92-year-old drives into a parked Mercedes without braking – seriously injured!

92-year-old drives into a parked Mercedes without braking – seriously injured!

A serious traffic accident occurred in Ratingen, drawing attention to the safety of older drivers. On Thursday around 4:00 p.m., a 92-year-old driver caused an accident on Rodenbach Street. The driver collided with a properly parked Mercedes for no apparent reason. The 92-year-old and his two passengers were seriously injured in the impact and had to be taken to hospital by rescue workers. The Mettmann police have initiated an investigation into road traffic hazards because there are doubts about the older driver's fitness to drive.

The damage to both vehicles amounts to around 20,000 euros, although both were no longer drivable and had to be towed away. This incident raises questions about the ability of older people to drive, especially given that reactions and vision can decline with age. Studies show that older road users are often more at risk than dangerous.

Road safety

According to that ADAC In 2023, people aged 65 and over caused 18.5% of accidents with personal injuries, which is below their share of the population of around 22%. Over 50% of pedestrians and cyclists who have fatal accidents are 65 years of age or older, and for Pedelec users the figure is almost 70%. ADAC expert Ulrich Chiellino emphasizes that seniors often have an adapted and proactive driving style, which can help them compensate for age-related losses in performance.

The safety of older road users depends largely on clear perception, good ability to react and attentiveness. It is therefore recommended that people of this age have regular medical examinations, especially for vision. If you have health problems, you should also speak to your doctor.

Support offers for seniors

In order to support the mobility of older drivers, the ADAC offers, among other things, a driving fitness check. This program helps to optimize your driving style and identify potential for improvement, but it does not replace medical advice. There are also driving safety courses that train older drivers to master new vehicle techniques and be safer on the road.

The “Safe Mobile” program, which is aimed at active road users aged 65 and over, is particularly important. This program helps you keep track of traffic and discuss current topics. The incident in Ratingen clearly illustrates the need for older drivers to self-critically examine their ability to drive and, if necessary, to consider alternatives to driving at an early stage.