Driver's license for the old
By Lee Sun-ho
Until a friend of mine, in early October, informed me by e-mail of the stringent permitting procedures for extending the validity of my driver's license for those aged over 75, I almost forgot the fact that my license's validity expires at the end of December.
I stopped driving during the second quarter of 2020 after my son asked me to use my vehicle for his COVID-19 prevention commuting. He never returned the car to me, in fear of me driving unsafely due to age-related issues.
In the meantime, I have opted for other transportation services like free subways, public buses or efficient taxies, and consequently, I became indifferent to the driver's license itself. Members of my family even asked me to give up the keys, and return the license to my district Road Traffic Authority (KoRoad) in exchange for 100,000 won given to retiring drivers in general.
Despite many such warning signals raised by my family, I was reluctant to give up this 51-year-long license I obtained in late 1970 in Manila when I was posted there at an international financial institution and have kept it not only inside Korea but also in different parts of North America for my job assignments over decades. So, I made up my mind to renew and maintain my license for an identification souvenir for the time being, whether I would drive or not from now on.
My long-trodden reckless challenge for a qualification examination, whether successful or not, tempted me to try to take the testing procedures for the older adults out of curiosity. The license renewal process for elderly drivers has also been worth noting to be applied to my contemporaries who are keeping their driving licenses, like me.
The top priority step was fixing the time and date for traffic safety education far in advance at the Gangnam KoRoad Driver's License Examination Office (GKDLEO), located next to the Seoul Gangnam Police Station. I tried to make the reservation by phoning the office many times since early October, and the earliest date available was November 11. Before taking part in the education program I had to prepare some authorized documents as necessary.
The most important one was the certificate for brain fitness tests comprising 30 problems to solve at Gangnam Dementia Center (GDC). The nurse examiner warned me, immediately before the test on Oct. 18, she would not issue the relevant certificate, if any concerning factors were verified from my tests.
Another document to submit for the renewal was the certificate qualifying the driver's physically healthy condition issued on Oct. 13 by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) office. With the combination of both mental (GDC) and physical (NHIS) requirements, the GKDLEO, on November 11, allowed me at last the renewal of my license for three years, only until the end of 2024, instead of 10 years for the ordinary younger drivers, following sitting through the two-hour traffic safety lessons as pre-scheduled.
I agree that my driving abilities will change as I get older and older. If I spot the warning signs of unsafe driving against any unexpected traffic accidents, these tips can help me adjust to my twilight years without the keys. Even with the renewed driver's license, I need to always keep in mind the above-mentioned three main factors; namely brain fitness, physical capability and safety tips for older drivers to keep me in the best possible driving shape. I would rather maintain my license against any uncertain contingencies, so far as my own driving qualification is still effective.
The writer (kexim2@unitel.co.kr) is a freelance columnist living in Seoul.