Red alarm level: The ghost trip at Christmas time is so dangerous!

Red alarm level: The ghost trip at Christmas time is so dangerous!

A 96, Deutschland - The dangers of ghost drivers are dramatically increasing, especially during the Christmas season. December 23 is considered the most dangerous day for ghost drivers, as the Board of Trustees warns. Last year alone, eight ghost drivers were reported by the radio stations. The statistics speak a clear language: almost 80 percent of false drivers are male and an average of 51 years old. The factors that lead to these accident -prone journeys are particularly worrying: alcohol and drugs are the reason in 43 percent of cases, while 38 percent of the wrong trips are due to overwhelming, such as Noen.at reported.

Accident research of the insurers (UDV) has also found that ghost trips are often carried out on purpose. In a third of cases, drivers turn in flowing traffic. The risk of people over 75 years, which make up more than 40 percent of ghost drivers. Dementia or confusion are often the causes here. Suicide intentions or escaping from the police often play a role in younger drivers. One example is a tragic incident in August 2023, in which an 83-year-old man drove in the opposite direction on the A 96 and died, while several other people were injured, according to the sueddeutsche.de .

precautionary measures and technological solutions

Although security measures such as better lines and the introduction of "stop hands" are already being considered at motorway connection points, the experts show that they are often not sufficient. However, technological progress, such as false drivers, are developing promising. These systems can recognize ghost trips and not only warn the driver, but also other road users. Manufacturers like ŠKODA have already integrated such warning systems into new cars. However, in order to ensure effective prevention, the UDV experts also require the introduction of emergency brake functions that could not only prevent false trips, but also automatically intervene before an accident occurs.