German tourist causes accident in Scotland: £2,165 fine!

German tourist causes accident in Scotland: £2,165 fine!

An elderly man from Germany not only maneuvered himself into the sidelines in the UK with his risky driving style, but also literally made headlines. Reimund Lorenz, 69, from St Wendel, was fined £2,165 and banned from driving in the country for 16 months after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. As northern-times.co.uk reports, Lorenz appeared in person at Inverness Sheriff Court for the sentencing and represented himself.

The incidents occurred on May 26, 2024, when Lorenz, who was following his motorcycle-driving brother, got onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with a Dacia Duster. At the time of the accident, which occurred around 3 p.m., the speed of both vehicles was between 50 mph and 60 mph. The driver of the Dacia Duster suffered serious injuries, while her passenger was fortunately able to exit the car independently and call emergency services.

Serious consequences for those involved in the accident

The consequences of the impact were significant. The driver of the Dacia Duster became temporarily unconscious and complained of pain in her hips, back and pelvis, which forced her to undergo physiotherapy. Her passenger, however, suffered a stable fracture of the spine and a fracture of the left ring finger. Both injured people were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where they were treated for their injuries. The German tourist, whose faulty navigation system led him onto the narrow path, was uninjured.

Interestingly, although Lorenz was punished for his dangerous driving, it could also light up a certain light in the context of traffic accident statistics. Such incidents must be analyzed as a basis for legislative measures and traffic education. According to destatis.de, the results of these statistics serve to obtain reliable and comprehensive data on the traffic safety situation. Good statistics can help prevent similar incidents.

Legal consequences and hit-and-run

What happens on the legal side is also important, especially when it comes to hit-and-run cases. This is legally defined as “unauthorized removal from the scene of the accident” in accordance with Section 142 of the Criminal Code. If you hit and run you could face fines, points in Flensburg or even the loss of your driving license. In addition, in serious cases, a prison sentence of up to three years can be imposed. bussgeldexperte.org explains that if you are unaware of the accident, you may be able to avoid penalties. In Lorenz's case, however, it is clear that he was aware of his responsibility.

The obligations that exist after an accident are essential: you have to stay at the scene of the accident or leave your personal details after waiting for an appropriate period of time. It is therefore important to show reactivity and a sense of responsibility in traffic in order to avoid such tragic accidents.