78-year-old senior citizen injured in a serious traffic accident in Neukirchen

78-year-old senior citizen injured in a serious traffic accident in Neukirchen

On Saturday afternoon there was a unfortunate traffic accident in the Braunau district, in which a 78-year-old woman was injured. According to Tips , the incident occurred at around 6:40 p.m. on the Lamprechtshausen Bundesstraße (b156) in the municipal area of ​​Neukirchen at the Enknach. The woman was on the move from Handenberg and lost control of her vehicle in the local area.

The car came off the road, drove through a meadow and crashed head -on against a spruce on the edge of a forest. The emergency medical initial care took place immediately at the scene of the accident before the 78-year-old was brought to the Braunau hospital with injuries indefinitely. Such incidents raise questions about traffic safety from older drivers, especially at a time when almost a fifth of the Austrian population is over 65.

The challenge for seniors in road traffic

Especially in older vehicle drivers, an increased risk is often spoken of. An analysis of the ÖAMTC that seniors over 65 years are perceived as a risk group, but the accident participation is subpropopularly. In fact, they are the endangered in traffic. In turning and crossing situations, special dangers lurk for this age group.

questioning your own driving safety is becoming increasingly important in this context. As experts from the ADAC note, reactionability and eyesight often decrease in old age. A self -critical review of driving ability is therefore advisable. Over 50% of the fatally crashed pedestrians and cyclists are 65 years or older, which underlines the great susceptibility of this age group. In the accident statistics for 2023, only 18.5% of the accidents of people from 65 years were caused, which is significantly below their population.

measures to increase security

A simple and clear design of intersections could help increase traffic safety. The ÖAMTC recommends that fewer traffic signs and advertising are placed in the street space in order to reduce the complexity of traffic. The security of older road users should be regarded as a matter of society as a whole, and improved traffic planning is necessary to take into account demographic change.

adac also offers programs such as the driving fitness check that should help older road users to improve their driving skills and to recognize potential risks. Regular voluntary medical examinations, especially vision, are also strongly recommended to ensure mobility and safety in road traffic.