A driver with two small sons crashes after a daring overtaking maneuver

A driver with two small sons crashes after a daring overtaking maneuver

A sensational traffic accident occurred on Friday on Sauerlandstrasse in Warstein, Soest district. A 38-year-old driver from Meschede quickly overtook a motorcyclist while he was traveling in the vehicle with his two small sons, three and seven years old. At around 3:10 p.m., his overtaking maneuver caused the driver to lose control of his car and ultimately crash into the guardrail, reports View from Hellweg.

The collision occurred on a curve where the driver's vehicle went onto the left side of the road. Fortunately, an oncoming car driver was able to avoid a head-on collision by braking hard. Despite the horror, the driver and his children only suffered minor injuries. An investigation was launched by the police based on witness statements and the driver's license was revoked until further notice.

The accident statistics in focus

The scope and frequency of traffic accidents should not be underestimated. Every year, thousands of people in the EU lose their lives or sustain serious injuries. Between 2010 and 2020, there was a 36 percent decrease in traffic deaths, according to European Parliament. There were a total of 22,800 traffic deaths in 2019; In 2020 there were 4,000 fewer. Preliminary figures show that the death toll has reached a record low in 18 EU member states.

However, a look at the statistics reveals interesting details: 76 percent of traffic fatalities were men, and 28 percent of those who died in 2018 were over 65 years old. This shows that the risks in road traffic are distributed differently according to gender and age.

The future of road safety

The pandemic has changed our traffic flow, which is also affecting the number of accidents. However, accurately measuring these factors remains a challenge. The EU average of road deaths is 42 per 1 million inhabitants, while the global average is over 180. Of particular note is Sweden, which has the safest roads, with only 18 road deaths per million inhabitants, while Romania has the highest rate at 85.

Given these numbers, it is questionable how safe our roads really are and what measures are necessary to avoid dangerous incidents like the one that happened in Warstein in the future. Those interested can find further information on road safety and detailed statistics on the website Eurostat.