Germany's car obsession comes at a high cost—especially for women
Germany's transport policies have long favoured cars over other forms of mobility, ignoring key differences in how men and women travel. A new report highlights how this bias leads to higher costs, safety risks, and inefficiencies. Critics argue that a true shift in mobility requires breaking away from a car-centric mindset dominated by male preferences.
Men are responsible for the vast majority of dangerous driving incidents. They cause 65% of severe injury crashes and 78% of fatal ones. Speeding violations over 50 km/h in cities are also overwhelmingly male—91% of offenders fall into this group. The financial burden of these behaviours reaches €13 billion annually.
Large, powerful cars remain a male-dominated trend. Four out of five vehicles with engines over 2,000cc belong to men. Despite stricter penalties—fines up to €500,000, licence revocations, and vehicle seizures—illegal street racing with rented sports cars persists. Local measures in Berlin and Munich have increased police checks, but no national laws specifically target this issue.
The political landscape has reinforced car dependency. The Transport Ministry, often led by CSU politicians with strong ties to motoring interests, has prioritised cars over alternatives. Germany's largest automobile club, the ADAC, now has more members than the Catholic Church, reflecting deep cultural attachment to private vehicles. Yet, most cars sit unused for 23 hours a day, occupying valuable public space.
Experts propose steep taxes on oversized SUVs and sports cars as a corrective step. They also stress the need to address overlooked mobility needs, particularly for women, whose travel patterns differ significantly from men's. A broader shift, they argue, must challenge the long-standing dominance of the car in urban planning.
Current policies continue to prioritise cars, despite their inefficiencies and risks. The financial and human costs of male-dominated driving behaviours remain high. Without targeted reforms, including higher taxes on large vehicles and gender-inclusive planning, the mobility system is unlikely to change.
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