The EU argues that Europe's roads should become safer and presents plans to do so.
Because they affect seniors in particular, the lack of understanding is not only great at the VdK.
Munich – Now the social association VdK is also reacting to the EU Commission's draft law.
This stipulates that the roadworthiness of drivers over the age of 70 should be checked every five years throughout the EU and that the age limit for more medical examinations will be raised from 50 to 70 years.
Some politicians have already grumbled.
Left and Union would continue to rely on the personal responsibility of drivers.
In the
Welt
report, the Greens and SPD expressed a certain sympathy for the plans from Brussels, which aim to halve the number of traffic fatalities in the EU by 2030 and reduce them to zero by 2050 through numerous innovations in the field of driving licenses.
Driving license changes for pensioners and Co. - the further plans of the EU:
In the future, drivers should be able to show their driver's license on their cell phone during traffic checks or when renting a car.
In the training of novice drivers, climate-friendly driving should take up more space in the future.
Young people should be able to get their driver's license at the age of 17 and gain experience through accompanied driving.
Traffic offenders should be able to be more easily punished in other EU countries.
Driving license update?
“It is the wrong way to put people under 70 years of age under general suspicion”
"Of course, reducing the number of accidents on German roads is a goal that the VdK shares," says President Verena Bentele at the request of
Merkur.de from IPPEN.MEDIA
.
According to the social association, older people in traffic are particularly at risk, especially as pedestrians and cyclists.
However: "It is the wrong way to put people over the age of 70 under general suspicion that they can no longer drive safely enough."
The largest social association in Germany, with a good 2.2 million members, finds: Mandatory fitness tests for drivers over the age of 70 "border on age discrimination".
According to Bentele, test procedures that only record the ability to react and disregard driving experience and judgment are only conditionally meaningful.
In fact, novice drivers show the best results in reaction tests, but they are more conspicuous in the accident statistics.
The VdK President therefore appeals: “Older drivers are usually experienced and more careful on the road.
Instead of the planned fitness tests, more offers are needed on a voluntary basis to check the fitness to drive of older people and to be able to get advice on this."
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Should seniors be required to take driving tests?
The question heats up tempers.
(symbol photo)
© Jochen Tack/Imago
ADAC and VdK attack EU plans for driving licenses unanimously
The ADAC had previously argued in a similar way and criticized the announced reforms for people of retirement age as "not proportionate".
Older road users in particular are usually “characterized by a driving style that is adapted to the situation and anticipatory driving.
They avoid risky manoeuvres," says a statement from the automobile club.
Bentele is attacking the plans in particular because "local public transport in Germany lags far behind in terms of accessibility".
As long as there are no reliable and barrier-free local transport services nationwide and especially in rural areas, older people and people with disabilities in particular will be dependent on their cars to stay mobile.
“As soon as you retire, the rag is gone”: a lack of understanding on social networks too
The plans presented by EU Commissioner Adina Valean at the beginning of March also caused waves on social networks.
Many people have little understanding: "It's funny that I'm supposed to work until I'm 70 and as soon as I'm not supposed to work anymore, I can't drive a car anymore," reads a comment on Twitter.
Another fears: "As soon as you retire, the rag is gone." You turn to criticism of the EU: "Do they have nothing else to do in the EU than just pronounce bans?"
The BAGSO, which by definition represents the interests of the older generations in Germany as a federal working group of senior citizens' organizations, did not want to comment on
IPPEN.MEDIA
's request .
List of rubrics: © Jochen Tack/Imago
