Stronger license regulation planned for senior drivers

Elderly call plan discriminatory

By Kim Bo-eun

The police move to require senior drivers aged 75 and above to renew their licenses every three years is spawning a dispute with senior citizens, who claim that this is discriminatory.

Current regulations require drivers aged 65 and above to renew their licenses every five years.

In a public hearing Wednesday, the National Police Agency said it would seek to revise related regulations to require elderly drivers to take tests to renew their licenses more frequently, which will also include eyesight and hearing tests. It also seeks to require elderly drivers to take a mandatory class on traffic safety.

While police emphasize stronger regulation is needed for safety on the roads, senior citizens say this is age discrimination.

According to the Samsung Traffic Safety Research Institute, the number of accidents caused by elderly drivers, and the deaths arising from them are growing.

Data from the institute shows accidents caused by drivers aged 65 and above grew 69.6 percent from 13,596 cases in 2011 to 23,063 in 2015.

The number of deaths arising from these accidents also rose 34.7 percent from 605 people in 2011 to 815 in 2015.

It also showed the number of drivers aged 65 and above is growing, and will amount to 4 million by 2020.

“Due to the aging population, the percentage of senior drivers is growing. Considering not only the number of accident is growing but also that of serious ones involving death, stronger regulations are necessary,” said Kim Sang-ock, a senior researcher at the institute.

But older drivers accounted for 9.07 percent of people causing accidents in 2014, according to the most recent available data.

Senior citizens do not view the revisions favorably.

“We do acknowledge the need for some regulations, but we think a better method would be to provide senior citizens with the information and necessary tools to make a self evaluation of their cognitive abilities,” said Kim Do-hoon, secretary general of the Korea Association of Senior Welfare Centers.

“Making senior citizens subject to such regulations can strengthen the notion that they lack cognitive and physical abilities, and are dependent people.”

Kim added that old and possibly malfunctioning vehicles, which the elderly drive, are also a factor that causes accidents, not just the drivers.

“We believe that the government should provide support for the lower income bracket, so that they are able to receive checkups for their vehicles.”

However, there is speculation that lawmakers may not revise the regulations, as they are afraid of losing the senior citizen vote.