Crash course in Hesse: road safety for young drivers!

Crash course in Hesse: road safety for young drivers!

Today, on July 2, 2025, a new prevention program entitled “CrashCourse Hessen” is starting in Hesse. The aim of the program is to reduce the number of serious traffic accidents involving young people. The focus is on information and awareness of the risks in road traffic, particularly in relation to alcohol, drugs, distraction and speed. The opening event took place on Tuesday at the König-Heinrich-Schule in Fritzlar, where police chief Marco Bärtl and other representatives of education and administration welcomed almost 100 participants. It becomes clear that the event is viewed as a valuable investment in their own safety, which is what the young participants were intensively informed about for around four to five hours

.

Insight into the “rescue chain”

A notable aspect of the event was the personal exchange with members of the so-called “rescue chain”. The fire brigade, rescue service and emergency pastoral care reported on their own experiences with serious traffic accidents. The students were also given the opportunity to view ambulances, fire engines and even funeral vehicles. This is intended to bring the reality of traffic accidents closer to young people and make them aware of the dangers.

During the course of the program, workshops were also held in which topics such as “alcohol and drugs in traffic” were discussed. The lively participation and thoughtful discussions reflect the young people's great interest in this important topic. Looking back, the great approval of “CrashKurs Hessen” is promising, and the program is also being carried out at other schools in northern Hesse. The target group is mainly teenagers and young adults in high school as well as vocational school students.

The Curse of Speed

Why is the issue of road safety so important for young drivers right now? A recent study showed that 22% of all people involved in accidents are young, novice drivers, even though they only represent 8% of the total population. These frightening figures are underpinned by the problems associated with speeding. Tanja, 16 years old, has herself taken part in speeding as a passenger and emphasizes that young girls often have a great influence on the drivers. It's frightening how often such trips end - often with serious accidents caused by drug use, overconfidence and distraction.

The North Rhine-Westphalia police are implementing similar initiatives to reduce the number of traffic accidents among young people. The “Crash Course NRW” campaign relies on emotional videos that illustrate the terrible consequences of traffic accidents. Every year, over 600 people in North Rhine-Westphalia die in traffic accidents; many of the accidents are due to exaggeration and disregard for basic traffic rules.

Positive developments in road traffic

ADAC accident research shows positive developments: although the number of young drivers involved in accidents is still worrying, they are having significantly fewer accidents than a few years ago. One reason for this could be the “Accompanied Driving from 17” program and increasing awareness of safe driving. However, young drivers are still disproportionately involved in solo accidents - with an alarming 29% of accidents in this age group occurring alone.

In summary, it can be said that initiatives such as “CrashKurs Hessen” and “CrashKurs NRW” can make a decisive contribution to minimizing the risk for young road users. The combination of education, practical experience and emotional appeals is a promising way to get the next generation of drivers safer on the road.

With the right awareness and responsibility, every driver can make an important contribution to greater safety on the roads. It is our responsibility to recognize and respect the dangers – to ourselves and to others.

Further information about the programs can be found here: Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and ADAC.