2024-09-24 13:17:00
According to a representative survey commissioned by the Technical Supervision Organization (TÜV), the majority of German residents favor the introduction of mandatory tests for older drivers. 85% of study participants believe that drivers aged 75 and older should take a test drive with an expert who would provide the driver with feedback based on the results.
90 percent of those interviewed admitted that they were ready, sooner or later, to voluntarily give up their driving licence. Most of them intend to do so when their health conditions lead to restrictions.
Many accidents occur due to the fault of drivers over the age of 75.
Due to demographic changes in German society, where there are more and more centenarians, the number of elderly people traveling on German roads is increasing, underlines Joachim Bühler, head of the TÜV.
The German driving license has no expiry datePhoto: Sina Schuldt/dpa/picture Alliance
As we age, however, the risk of road accidents increases, particularly due to decreased vision, shorter attention span and slower reaction times. And if 75-year-old drivers are involved in an accident, according to the TÜV in three out of four cases they are the main culprits of the accident.
76 percent of respondents in the survey of 1,207 people are in favor of even more radical measures: they are convinced that pensioners should undergo a mandatory test of their driving ability. According to the majority of Germans, if a person is no longer able to safely drive a vehicle, he or she should be deprived of his or her driving license.
Driving experts oppose mandatory testing for older adults
At the same time, 88% of those interviewed would like to make decisions regarding their mobility for as long as possible. Nearly three-quarters of Germans cannot imagine participating in public life without a car. In Germany, the driving license issued for driving a car or motorcycle does not have an expiry date, except for truck drivers. There are also no rules that require older adults to undergo a physical exam or give up their driver’s license after reaching a certain age. According to the head of the TÜV, it is important to find the opportunity to combine a high level of road safety with the desire to participate in it for as long as possible.
Joachim Bühler supports the obligation for elderly motorists to travel accompanied by experts. In this way, motorists can receive an assessment of their strengths and weaknesses in driving, suggestions for improving their driving behavior to avoid accidents and information on changes in traffic rules. The TÜV sees no need to introduce a mandatory driving test for older people.
The European Commission proposed this year, as part of a reform, that older drivers should renew their licenses and undergo a medical examination. The European Parliament, however, did not support this initiative. EU Member States can continue to decide independently whether elderly drivers should undergo a mandatory health check.
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