Wrong-way driver on A70: Hero stops ghost drive near Gundelsheim!

Wrong-way driver on A70: Hero stops ghost drive near Gundelsheim!

On Friday morning, June 20, 2025, an explosive scenario occurred on the A70 in the Bamberg district with two wrong-way drivers traveling in the direction of Bayreuth. The incident took place around 6:20 a.m. and could only be stopped through the courageous efforts of a witness. This stopped the wrong-way drivers in the area of ​​a construction site and thus prevented potentially worse consequences. He showed once again that moral courage is essential in road traffic. After stopping, the wrong-way drivers turned around and left the motorway a short time later without causing any disruption or injury to other road users. The police have now started an investigation and are asking possible witnesses to call 0951/9129-510.

The incident illustrates a growing problem: Every year in Germany there are around 2,000 warning messages about wrong-way driving, like this UDV reported. There were 83 accidents involving wrong-way drivers in 2021, 24 of which were tragically fatal. A major concern of insurers' accident research is to clarify that many of these wrong-way trips happen on purpose. In around a third of the cases, the wrong-way driver made a U-turn in moving traffic - an obviously dangerous maneuver.

Psychological factors

A frightening finding is that over 40% of wrong-way drivers are over 75 years old and often suffer from dementia or confusion. For younger wrong-way drivers, attempts to escape from the police or suicidal intentions are often the main reasons for the risky behavior. The Accident research by insurers also highlights that emotionally unstable people, often male and unaccompanied, are among the most common perpetrators. The figures show that men also make up over 79% of wrong-way drivers and that the majority complain of alcohol-related or emotional problems.

The measures to prevent such dangerous driving maneuvers have so far only been effective to a limited extent. Specialists have found that wrong-way driving occurs particularly frequently on weekends and at night, as well as when traffic density is low. The UDV is already experimenting with technical systems that could be integrated into vehicles to warn both wrong-way drivers and other road users.

Clarification required

So what can be done to reduce these road hazards? The UDV recommends clearer markings and structural separations at entrances and exits. Innovative app-based systems could distribute traffic and wrong-way driver reports and thus contribute to active safety in road traffic. The behavior of road users is also becoming increasingly relevant through educational activities. In the event of a wrong-way driver report, drivers should drive on the right and be sure to turn on the hazard lights to draw attention to how dangerous these situations can be.

In view of the recent events on the A70 in Bamberg, it becomes clear how explosive the issue of wrong-way driving is - both in terms of individual behavior in traffic and the need for effective prevention and education measures. It is up to all of us to improve safety on the roads.