Seen as a threat, Japanese senior drivers should retake a driving test to stay eligible. (Image via The Japan Times)

Japan to test the elderly's driving skills based on traffic offenses record: Source

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
News Flash Japan
Dec 20, 2019
1670
According to a statement from a source from the Japanese government on Thursday, Japan will require the elderly with records of traffic offenses to retake driving skill tests when renewing their driver’s license.

The National Police Agency (NPA) will submit a bill to the Japanese parliament to reform the traffic laws, requiring the senior citizens to show their driving capability at driving schools before taking the actual wheels. The senior citizens will be required to renew their driver’s license once every three years.

The bill also came after NPA surveyed about 2,000 Japanese people from teens to the elderly in September. The majority said that the senior drivers are a threat (more than 80 percent), while the rest called Japan to revise its driving license system (almost 80 percent).

A separate survey was conducted to 69-year-olds and above. The result was similar.

NPA is still considering whether the test should also be done to either 70 and above or 80 and above. The test ranges from driving ability to cognitive function once the senior applicants have passed the driving test. If they fail, they are allowed to take the test as many as they want.

For those who didn’t do well on the test, they are still eligible for the new licenses. But, they need to drive a car with advanced road techs such as autonomous brake to prevent acceleration.

In Japan’s rapidly aging population, more than 5.6 million driver’s license holders were 75 years old and above (reported in 2018), and it will grow to more than 7.1 million in 2023. Also, reported in 2018, the number of road accidents, involving 75 years old and above, increased by 42 cases to 460 compared to 2017.

Over three years, 20 percent of these senior drivers violated traffic rules. Therefore, the NPA will also determine what offenses should make the senior drivers subject to the test.

Source: https://bit.ly/38VE9Cz

Regulation , Automotive , Car , License , Asia , Japan , Traffic , Accident , Population , Senior