Nearly two-thirds of drivers in Germany consider common well being checks are a smart approach to decide whether or not individuals are match to drive. That is the results of a consultant survey of some 2,000 German residents carried out by market analysis and knowledge analytics agency YouGov on behalf of Continental from March 11 to 13, 2024.
The findings additionally present that the older the respondents, the much less possible they’re to agree with this assertion. Whereas 75 p.c of 18 to 29-year-olds are in favor of this proposal, solely round half of these over 70 are of the identical opinion. The distinction between generations is much more evident on the subject of whether or not driving licenses for folks aged 70 and over ought to be legitimate for a restricted period of time and renewed provided that the individual passes a well being verify.
73 p.c of over 70s oppose this concept, whereas greater than two-thirds of these beneath 50 are in favor. Round half (49 p.c) of these surveyed who assume well being checks make sense are in favor of extra frequent check-ups of no less than as soon as each two years.
Throughout all age teams, it’s clear that the rising use of recent superior driver help methods is making drivers really feel safer behind the wheel. “The outcomes present that superior driver help methods help drivers on the street, thus dwelling as much as their title. As superior driver help methods turn out to be extra available in automobiles, their acceptance can also be rising and can solely proceed to take action,” says Gilles Mabire, chief expertise officer (CTO) for Automotive at Continental.
Security and independence whereas driving a main focus for most individuals
In accordance with the survey outcomes, security and independence whereas driving are significantly essential components for a big majority of individuals – significantly these aged 70 and over. With this demographic group set to extend as a share of Germany’s complete inhabitants over the approaching years, the dangers to which senior drivers are uncovered will even rise, as will the dangers they pose to different street customers because of potential age-related impairment.
In accordance with the Federal Statistical Workplace, round 37 p.c of street fatalities in Germany in 2022 have been over the age of 65, regardless of this age group accounting for under round 22 p.c of the whole inhabitants. As well as, statistics present that severe accidents specifically usually tend to be brought on by older drivers.
Demographic development prompts discussions at political degree
In response to this demographic development, the EU Fee sees a necessity for motion. In 2023, it proposed that each 5 years driving license holders over the age of 70 ought to need to both submit a self-assessment on their health to drive or endure medical checks to substantiate they’re nonetheless match sufficient to drive. The proposal initially even specified that every one drivers within the EU ought to need to reapply for his or her driving license each 15 years and endure medical exams or submit a self-assessment type. In-depth discussions have been held on the matter, and the EU finally determined in opposition to introducing necessary EU-wide medical checks in February 2024.
The EU member states could determine for themselves, nevertheless, whether or not and which well being checks make sense in their very own international locations. In Germany, the federal authorities doesn’t impose necessary testing. In different European international locations, nevertheless, well being checks are a requirement. In Spain, for instance, drivers aged 65 and over will need to have their driving license renewed each 5 years and supply medical proof of their health to drive.
Legislators in Denmark require a medical certificates to be able to renew the driving license of these aged 75 and over. Upon reaching the age of 80, a brand new utility should be submitted on a yearly foundation. Driving licenses in Italy are usually solely legitimate for a sure time frame. From the age of fifty, they should be renewed each 5 years, from 70 each three years and from 80 each two years. Holders should additionally endure a medical examination to be able to have their license prolonged.
Technological developments in new automobiles make folks really feel safer
Superior driver help methods are well known as serving to to make driving safer and have gotten more and more essential. Some will even turn out to be necessary for brand new automobiles within the EU from July 2024.
In accordance with the vast majority of survey respondents, superior driver help methods make folks really feel safer whereas driving. Throughout all age teams, the reversing digicam is valued most extremely on common (at 40 p.c), adopted by flip help and emergency brake help methods (each at 32 p.c), adaptive cruise management (31 p.c), parking help (29 p.c), in addition to lane maintaining help and clever headlamp management (each at 28 p.c).
What’s putting right here is that drivers of newer automobiles (in-built 2021 or later) in Germany usually tend to see superior driver help methods as a useful help for driving security than drivers of older automobiles (in-built 2020 or earlier than). Approval charges vary from 65 to 44 p.c for the reversing digicam, for instance, from 46 to 33 p.c for the flip help system and from 53 to 31 p.c for the emergency brake help system (in every case for automobiles in-built 2021 or later and for automobiles constructed between 2011 and 2020, respectively).
This implies that use of superior driver help methods has a constructive impact on appreciation for them, since they’re extra extensively obtainable and due to this fact extra possible for use in newer automotive fashions. In brief: the newer the car, the extra possible its driver is to agree with superior driver help methods’ impression on security.
“We see these findings as affirmation of our work and as a mandate to additional develop and, the place obligatory, construct belief within the newest security applied sciences. Continental is dedicated to technological developments to be able to develop options for more and more secure, good and sustainable mobility,” emphasizes Mabire.
Accident statistics present that the superior driver help methods most well-liked by older drivers supply an acceptable technique of decreasing the danger of accidents amongst this group, since they counteract causes which, based on the Federal Statistical Workplace, typically result in accidents amongst seniors on the wheel – reminiscent of driver error when turning, reversing, beginning, stopping or sustaining distance.
The options these methods ought to have to be able to enhance their acceptance and the sensation of security amongst drivers is a vital query for builders.
In Continental’s survey, a transparent majority throughout all age teams – and particularly respondents with newer automobiles in-built 2021 or later – mentioned they personally really feel safer in trendy automobiles due to superior driver help methods’ ease of use in addition to the vary of options they provide. Each youthful age teams and people over the age of 70 mentioned that ease of use was essential to them for superior driver help methods, but in addition for air con and infotainment methods.
Key components that trigger uncertainty amongst drivers
The survey outcomes additionally reveal that throughout all age teams, the components that trigger essentially the most uncertainty amongst drivers are dangerous climate situations (50 p.c), different street customers (49 p.c) and poor visibility (48 p.c). The 70+ age group can also be extra fearful than common (42 p.c) about driving at night time – a potential indication of seniors’ typically deteriorating imaginative and prescient.
Continental is likely one of the main suppliers of superior driver help methods
The protection of all street customers is Continental’s prime precedence within the growth and industrialization of recent applied sciences. “In opposition to the backdrop of demographic modifications, we acknowledge a necessity to mix private mobility with a excessive commonplace of security into previous age,” explains CTO Gilles Mabire. Superior driver help methods play an more and more essential position right here.
Continental has many years of expertise on this space and is actively contributing its technological experience for when sure superior driver help methods turn out to be necessary for brand new automobiles within the EU from July 7. Sensors, software program and clever connectivity function the premise for superior driver help methods.
Continental started growing these methods greater than 20 years in the past and has since put thousands and thousands of those applied sciences on the street. In the present day, the corporate is likely one of the main automotive suppliers within the area. In 2023 alone, Continental produced greater than 39 million cameras and radar and lidar sensors for assisted and automatic driving capabilities.
Concerning the survey
Market analysis and knowledge analytics agency YouGov carried out the consultant on-line survey on behalf of Continental in March 2024. As a part of this, 2,055 German residents between the ages of 18 and over 70 have been requested about security on the street.
