Study: Four out of five seniors would hand in their driver's license if their physician advised them to
(LifePR) - .
- 90 percent of all drivers over 55 in favor of voluntary health check
- Majority of young drivers against mandatory driving tests at regular intervals
- Verkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen and Continental present new study
Four out of every five seniors would hand in their driver's li-cense if their physician advised them to do so, but only one out of every two would do so if a similar suggestion should come from someone in their family or circle of friends. At the same time, over 90 percent of all motorists over 55 are in favor of a voluntary health check to de-termine one's fitness to operate a car. Young drivers, on the other hand, are little interested in subjecting themselves to a driving test at regular intervals, although the statistical likelihood of an inexperienced driver's being involved in an accident is four times higher than for other drivers.
These are some of the key results in the representative study that Landesverkehrswachtstif-tung Niedersachsen [Lower Saxony road watch foundation] and the international automotive supplier Continental presented in Hanover on Thursday. In the spring of 2010, Continental commissioned TNS infratest to survey a total of 1,500 motorists, or 500 per age group: new drivers (17 to 25 years old), best-agers (55 to 65 years old) and seniors (over 65).
"As the road watch foundation for Lower Saxony, we want to establish a new point of em-phasis for scientific research rather than restricting ourselves to classical provinces like psy-chology, pedagogics, medicine and engineering. We decided to concentrate the scope of our study on new drivers and seniors behind the wheel, the two groups that are conspicuously present in the statistics, but also two groups that are the butt of a lot of prejudice and the subject of a number of unanswered questions," said Dr. Wolfgang Schultze, chairman of the Board of Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen. "Time and again - especially after an attention-getting accident - a hue and cry arises in the general public for medical examina-tions to assess the driving fitness of older motorists; much the same is advocated for new drivers. We wanted to know what the age groups concerned think about all of this them-selves."
The study shows that new drivers are much more in favor of driving tests for older motorists than for their own target group: 85 percent feel that mandatory driving tests for motorists 70 and older would be a good thing. Only half of all best-agers are in favor of such. As for se-niors themselves, only 39 percent support such tests. At the same time, though, four out of five best-agers and three out of four seniors would take part in a voluntary driving test. There was even more support for a voluntary health check for those 70 and over: More than 90 percent of both best-agers and seniors are in favor of such a check-up.
"I can completely identify with the sentiments of older motorists. The main thing is that the proposed measures be voluntary. Having said this, it is important that seniors heed the clear message from their own physician, and that advice from family members and close friends also carry a certain weight," notes Peter Kraus (71), entertainer and enthusiastic motorist, in response to the study. He covers around 40,000 kilometers a year in his own car. "Should my physician one day present me with cogent arguments for turning in my driver's license, then I would do just that. In any case I shall take Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen up on their offer and do driver safety training in the form of a test sometime this year."
Regardless of what the doctor might have to say, best-agers and seniors indicate that what they themselves think of their driving competence might prompt them to hand in their driver's license on their own ("I can no longer keep the car under control"), as would health reasons, poorer vision or reflexes, or general incertitude when driving. In point of fact, 50 percent of all best-agers and 40 percent of all seniors indicate that they have, on occasion, already had a scare or misgivings when in the car with an unsafe driver - one older than 70 in most cases. Even more of the young drivers surveyed - 65 percent, in fact - have already found them-selves in a similarly precarious situation due to the way the driver was handling the car; the driver in this case was mainly of the same age, though.
Obviously both new drivers and older motorists know very well why they were worried, for all age groups surveyed largely agree as to the causes for the disproportionately high number of traffic accidents among new drivers (multiple responses possible):
Roughly two thirds of each of the three groups cite "overestimation of one's own ability", half cite "recklessness", around 40 percent pinpoint "lack of experience", and about a third refer to the influence of alcohol or drugs as crucial factors. Accordingly, technical defects on the vehicle are not felt to play a role.
"For me it is only logical that overestimation of one's own ability and a lack of behind-the-wheel experience are to blame for many traffic accidents. I find the idea of escorted driving - in other words, a driver's license at 17 - great. It provides an opportunity to gain driving expe-rience. Alongside this, though, new drivers should also have safety training so as to get a better picture of their own limits as well as of the vehicle's. Professionals can show them how to avoid dangerous situations or how to deal with them if worse comes to worst," said actress Janina Uhse (20), who already got her driver's license at seventeen and so has had wheels for four years now.
In addition to asking those interviewed in the three age groups what they personally though about driving competence tests, the survey also focused on other aspects like the general field of automotive technology and modern driver assist systems. All three target groups are "very" or at least "somewhat" interested in the technical equipment standard of their vehicles (80 percent). Without any help, those surveyed were most often able to cite driver assist sys-tems like anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and park assist. With a bit of nudging, a whole 100 percent of those surveyed were acquainted with ABS. Park assist and acoustic park systems are also known virtually across the board. But even with help, no more than four out of five were aware of ESC, although it has been in use in cars for around twenty years now.
When purchasing a car, driver assist and safety systems are highly relevant for all target groups: 73 percent of all new drivers make sure the car is so equipped; 70 percent of all best-agers do so and 76 percent of all seniors. For a better buy, 38 percent of all new drivers would, however, compromise on a vehicle's safety, while only 21 percent of new-agers would and 13 percent of seniors.
In the study older motorists were pointedly asked what vehicle features should take account of age-related physical limitations (multiple answers possible): Easily operable and legible buttons on the instrument panel were mentioned most frequently, along with high-rider, swivel seating. The assist systems most often mentioned were parking aids and night vision sys-tems.
"We took a close look at the results as regards technology and concluded that the auto in-dustry must continue to "drive home" what it has to offer in the way of modern driver assist systems, underscoring the practical supportive devices available and other products that are possible," says Heinz-Gerhard Wente, Continental Executive Board member as well as member of the board of trustees of Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen. "If it is true - as the statistics indicate - that motorists aged 65 and over are more than twice as likely to fail to yield the right of way, then crossing-traffic assist systems may be the answer. Although this function is approaching production readiness, 95 percent of those surveyed still know nothing about it. The underlying principle is simple: A car recognizes the situation at the crossing and signals this wirelessly: I have right of way! Other vehicles answer: I know. And this is then clearly shown to drivers on their displays. Insofar, the goals of Landesver-kehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen and Continental are congruent: Avoiding accidents is the overriding objective."
In 2009 4,154 people died in traffic accidents throughout Germany, while 397,448 were injured. Every traffic accident entails major social and financial loss - for the individuals concerned and for society. Viewed against this background, Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen intends to put traffic safety innovations to the test: Prevention research, work and action means seeing to it that dramatic traffic accident situations do not even occur in the first place. Established in December 2008, Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen is looking to mainly provide financial support for research projects and measures that would otherwise not be realized for lack of funding.
With sales of approximately ?20 billion in 2009 Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately 143,000 in 46 countries.
In 2009 4,154 people died in traffic accidents throughout Germany, while 397,448 were injured. Every traffic accident entails major social and financial loss - for the individuals concerned and for society. Viewed against this background, Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen intends to put traffic safety innovations to the test: Prevention research, work and action means seeing to it that dramatic traffic accident situations do not even occur in the first place. Established in December 2008, Landesverkehrswachtstiftung Niedersachsen is looking to mainly provide financial support for research projects and measures that would otherwise not be realized for lack of funding.
With sales of approximately ?20 billion in 2009 Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental contributes to enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately 143,000 in 46 countries.
Datum: 30.09.2010 - 11:41 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
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