A French pensioner just wanted to go to the doctor, but his journey ended 1,500 kilometers away in Croatia. The cause of the wandering remains a mystery.
An 85-year-old man from Châtillon-sur-Thouet, a municipality in France’s Deux-Sèvres department, about 50 kilometers from Nantes, caused a stir last week. He actually just wanted to go to the doctor in Airvault which was about 25 kilometers away. But the journey only ended after twenty hours and a distance of about 1,500 kilometers – in Croatia.
The man’s unusual journey initially went unnoticed. When he didn’t show up for a scheduled meeting and neighbors noticed his absence, they contacted authorities. Such behavior is not uncommon among retirees, reports the Belgian newspaper “Nieuwsblad”. This case caused a stir in the village of 2,700 people.
A visit to the doctor turned into a 1,500 kilometer journey to Croatia
Police and rescue workers searched the man’s house but found it empty. They finally managed to contact the missing person via cellphone. To their surprise, the 85-year-old man explained that he was in a hotel in Croatia.
Despite the long and unexpected journey, the man was fine. It took him 20 hours for his exciting journey. His family had to take care of bringing his senior back to France.
Fine retiree: “I don’t understand how this could happen”
He expressed his confusion over the incident and emphasized that he had never suffered from cognitive impairment or disorientation. “I don’t understand how this could happen,” he told French broadcaster Ici.
Risks behind the wheel: Are retirees a danger behind the wheel?
Fortunately, this case ended lightly. Yet elderly drivers are repeatedly responsible for fatal accidents. Therefore, more than 85 percent of Germans consider regular driving tests from the age of 75 to be normal. However, such discussions must carefully consider road safety and the mobility and participation rights of seniors. Both sides have good arguments:
- Driving ability in old age: Discussions regarding driving safety for older drivers are very widespread in Germany. According to statistics, people aged 65 and over are responsible for two-thirds of accidents, and for those over 75, the proportion increases to more than three-quarters.
- International regulations: Countries such as Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands already require health checks from the age of 60. In contrast, Germany so far does not carry out routine checks for elderly citizens.
- Expert opinion: Sports doctor Klaus Neuner emphasizes the importance of mobility for older people, but views checking driving ability as necessary. He suggests mandatory examinations and regular theory refreshers to minimize risks.
- Age restrictions for control: Neuner recommends inspections every ten years, every five years from age 70, and every two years from age 80. The goal is to improve safety without suddenly removing elderly drivers from traffic.
- EU decision: A proposal for a Europe-wide driving fitness test from the age of 70 has been rejected. Responsibility remains with member states, so no mandatory controls are planned in Germany for now.
