A coalition of Germany’s Union and Social Democratic parties has expressed support for the fire brigade’s demand to strip thrill-seekers of their driving licenses in the event of a traffic accident.
The CDU/CSU parliamentary faction’s right-wing spokesperson, Susanne Hierl, emphasized that “gawkers who put lives at risk are not a trivial matter.” She believes that if current penalties are not sufficient to deter such behavior, the revocation of a driving license should be a consequence.
Hierl further stated, “The rule of law must protect accident victims and cannot provide a platform for recklessly behaved onlookers.” She added, “Anyone who hinders rescue workers or films accident victims while doing so is acting inconsiderately and must face the consequences.”
The Social Democratic coalition partner shares this view. “Anyone who hinders rescue workers or films accident victims is committing a crime and can face driving bans and, in limited cases, even the revocation of their driving license” said SPD faction justice expert and parliamentary business manager Johannes Fechner in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
During the discussions on the planned law to protect the police and rescue services, the coalition is now expected to review whether the possibility of revoking a driving license for hindering rescue workers can be further expanded, as demanded by the Social Democrat. “By doing so, we can also contribute to improving the work of the rescue services” Fechner said.
The president of the German Fire Brigade Association, Karl-Heinz Banse, had previously called for harsher penalties for thrill-seekers who hinder rescue workers at the scene of an accident or film the rescue effort and suggested the revocation of their driving license as a consequence.