Traffic mortality in Germany before, during, and after reunification

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in late 1989, the combination of sudden wealth, sudden access to cars, and a flood of new young drivers had disastrous effects on East Germans. While motor vehicle occupant death rates decreased in West Germany, motor vehicle occupant death rates in East Germany surged upward. Between 1989 and 1991, the death rate increased for all age groups but was greatest for 18-20 year olds (from 5 to 54 deaths/100,000) and 21-24 year olds (from 5 to 44). Fatality rates for other classes of road users did not show increases such as those for car occupants.