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Older people are more often the cause of car accidents (symbol image)
In some regions in Baden-Württemberg, senior citizens will soon be able to receive a free annual ticket for local public transport - in exchange for their driver's license.
To this end, the State Ministry of Transport has signed a cooperation agreement with numerous transport associations, as the Transport Minister Winfried Hermann (Greens) announced.
"You don't need a driver's license to be mobile," said the minister when presenting the project.
The annual ticket is provided once
From December 1st, senior citizens can apply for a free annual ticket for local transport in the participating associations in the state - once.
To do this, they must voluntarily and permanently renounce their driving license and return their driving license to the driving license authorities.
Another requirement is a primary residence in the respective network area.
The state of Baden-Württemberg contributed up to three million euros to the costs arising from this offer, the remaining costs, but at least 50 percent, would be borne by the transport associations.
Similar models have already been tested in some counties.
The exchange is offered by the following associations, among others:
bodo (Bodensee-Oberschwaben Verkehrsverbund GmbH)
DING (Donau-Iller-Nahverkehrsverbund-GmbH)
HNV (Heilbronner Hohenloher Haller Nahverkehr GmbH)
htv (Heidenheimer Tariff Association)
KVV (Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund GmbH)
OstalbMobil (OstalbMobil GmbH)
RVL (Regio Verkehrsverbund Lörrach GmbH)
VHB (Transport Company Hegau-Bodensee Verbund GmbH)
VVR (Verkehrsverbund Rottweil GmbH)
VVS (Transport and Tariff Association Stuttgart GmbH)
WTV (Waldshuter Tarifverbund GmbH)
The streets should become safer
The aim of the campaign is to make road traffic safer.
Because: More than a third of the road users who had a fatal accident are 65 years or older, said Hermann.
If they drive a car in an accident, seniors are primarily to blame in 68 percent of cases.
more on the subject
Traffic: Are old people dangerous on the street, Mr. Naused? By Barbara Hardinghaus
In view of the demographic change, a growing number of road users aged 65 and over can be expected in the coming years, the ministry said.
Bernd Ebert from the regional seniors' council expressed his approval: The project is an opportunity for older people to »make a long overdue but postponed decision.
If driving a car in city traffic becomes more and more difficult due to physical ailments or poor vision and hearing and you feel unsafe, this offer can be an incentive or a final impetus to return your driver's license, ”he said.
vki / dpa
