Sad accident in Ribnitz: 90-year-old wife is overrun in the parking lot

Sad accident in Ribnitz: 90-year-old wife is overrun in the parking lot

In a tragic turn of fate, there was a serious accident in the parking lot of a supermarket in Ribnitz-Damgarten last Monday in the Vorpommern-Rügen district. A 90-year-old man rolled over his 85-year-old wife. The dramatic events began when the senior couple's car did not want to start. Witnesses reported that several passers -by helped the couple to push the car. But when the engine finally ran again, the serious incident occurred: the woman got under the vehicle and was rolled over. Despite the fast rescue measures, the senior died at the scene of the accident.

The terrible situation got worse for the relatives when an emergency chaplain was consulted to look after the husband and other participants. The police have currently commissioned an expert to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident, and the whole thing throws a shadow on the safety of seniors in road traffic.

accident frequency for seniors

Now you may ask yourself: Are older drivers really so endangered? According to the statistics of the Federal Statistical Office, more than 66,000 people aged 65 and over in traffic accidents in Germany in 2021, which corresponds to 14.5 percent of all those involved in the accident. It is striking that pedestrians and cyclists in old age are particularly at risk. In particular, the age group from the age of 75 is perceived as increasingly endangered because they not only take part in traffic, but also have to suffer more serious injuries in the event of accidents. About 868 traffic fatalities were over 65 years old, which makes alarming 33.9 percent of the road fatalities, while seniors only took up 13.9 percent of all crashes. This shows that older people are disproportionately left out in the event of accidents.

The causes of the accident vary, such as Tagesschau reports. Course measurements and misconduct when turning, turning and reversing are often mentioned as reasons. Also signs of age such as declining seeing and hearing have an impact on traffic safety. The Wismar traffic guard emphasizes that it is urgently needed to develop new traffic concepts that improve mobility and security of older people.

precautionary measures for seniors

In order to increase the safety of seniors in road traffic, there are suggestions and recommendations, such as feedback trips with a professional to optimize driving behavior. The use of innovative technologies, such as emergency brake or parking assistants, could also help minimize the risk for older drivers. However, despite all the precautions, the accident statistics remain worrying, and the municipality is asked to take measures to take both the needs of older people into account and to ensure their safety in road traffic.

The sad events in Ribnitz-Damgarten should all encourage us to think about the safety in road traffic and how we can better protect our older fellow citizens. A thriving cooperation in road traffic requires understanding, consideration and innovative solutions for all road users.