Sad accident in Ribnitz: 90-year-old runs over his wife in the parking lot

Sad accident in Ribnitz: 90-year-old runs over his wife in the parking lot

In a tragic twist 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 ran over his 85-year-old wife. The dramatic events began when the elderly couple's car wouldn't start. Witnesses reported that several passers-by helped the couple push the car. But when the engine finally started running again, a serious incident occurred: the woman fell under the vehicle and was rolled over. Despite the quick rescue measures, the elderly woman died at the scene of the accident.

The terrible situation became even worse for the relatives when an emergency pastor was called in to care for the husband and others involved. The police have currently commissioned an expert to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident, and the whole thing casts a shadow over the safety of seniors on the road.

Accident frequency among seniors

Now you might ask yourself: Are older drivers really that at risk? According to statistics from the Federal Statistical Office, more than 66,000 people aged 65 and over were involved in traffic accidents in Germany in 2021, which corresponds to 14.5 percent of all those involved in the accident. It is striking that older pedestrians and cyclists are particularly at risk. In particular, the age group 75 and over is perceived as increasingly at risk because they not only drive less often, but also suffer more serious injuries in accidents. Around 868 traffic fatalities were over 65 years old, which accounts for an alarming 33.9 percent of traffic fatalities, while senior citizens only made up 13.9 percent of all accident victims. This shows that older people disproportionately often lose out in accidents.

The causes of accidents vary, as Tagesschau reports. Failure to comply with the right of way and incorrect behavior when turning, turning and reversing are often cited as reasons. Signs of aging such as declining vision and hearing also have an impact on road safety. The Wismar traffic police emphasizes that there is an urgent need to develop new traffic concepts that improve the mobility and safety of older people.

Precautionary measures for seniors

In order to increase the safety of seniors on the road, there are suggestions and recommendations, such as feedback drives with a professional in order to optimize driving behavior. The use of innovative technologies, such as emergency braking or parking assistants, could also help minimize the risk for older drivers. However, despite all precautionary measures, accident statistics remain worrying and the community is called upon to take measures to both address the needs of older people and ensure their safety on the roads.

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