Elderly drivers emerging as serious social problem

By Kang Seung-woo

On Sept. 18, a car crashed into a drugstore in Guro-gu, western Seoul. Not drunk at all, the driver, 83, mistakenly crashed his car into it, while trying to enter the parking lot.

Also, a 69-year-old drove the wrong way in Hapcheon, South Gyeongsang Province, leading to a crash, in which three people in the car coming in the right direction were seriously injured. However, the driver was not aware of traveling the wrong way, according to police.

As the number of elderly drivers is sharply increasing amid the aging of the population, car accidents caused by them are also increasing, sparking calls for aged drivers to voluntarily stop and return their licenses.

According to the Road Traffic Authority (KoROAD), the number of drivers aged 65 or older stood at 1.66 million in 2012, but it reached 2.8 million last year. During the same period, the number of the accidents caused by them rose from 15,190 to 26,713.

"I often see drivers on highways, struggling to stay in their lanes and going back and forth ― scenes keeping other drivers on nerves and reminding me of drunk driving at first sight ― but later I find they are snow-haired aged drivers in nine cases out of 10," said Park Hyun-wook, a salesman who frequently drives long distances.

"I think there should be measures to prevent those people from sitting behind the wheel for public safety."

Although car accidents involving elderly drivers are seen as an emerging grave social problem, older motorists are refusing to retire from driving, as evidenced that only 3,691 returned their licenses last year in comparison with the 2.8 million active elderly drivers.

In that respect, the government is encouraging the elderly to return their licenses to prevent and decrease traffic accidents.

In September, KoROAD held an event in Seoul to encourage older drivers to surrender their licenses.

"I think I still can be an above-average driver, but driving at an advanced age may lead to dangerous accidents," said an 80-year-old taxi driver, who turned in his license at the event.

Another participant, 80, echoed the former's view, saying, "With age, drivers lose concentration and show slowed motor reflexes."

According to a report by KoROAD, older motorists experience a marked decline in their ability such as diminished vision, slower reaction times, and loss of hearing and judgment of speed and distance.

For example, the most typical recurring problem among older drivers is they confuse the accelerator with the brake pedal.

Less dangerous than young drivers

In response to growing demand for senior drivers to surrender their licenses, they strongly resist hanging up their car keys ― particularly among those who make a living behind the wheel ― claiming they still have some gas left in the tank against young motorists.

"Such a call is threatening the livelihood. If older drivers return their licenses, there are few opportunities for aged people to get another job," a taxi driver said.

"It is unreasonable to urge aged people to stop driving merely because they are old."

Lee Won-min, 70, an over 40-year veteran driver who still make cross-province road trips, said despite declining driving ability, elderly drivers are less dangerous than the most accident-prone young counterparts.

"Look at young people driving on the road. If you see them drive so reckless, you cannot say older men are more dangerous drivers," he said.

Lee also said giving up the driver's license means losing a means of travel, making senior citizens' life inconvenient.

In that respect, experts advise the government to explore specific measures to deal with the issue rather than just urging older drivers to return their licenses.

"As senior citizens are heavily dependent on cars over public transport as they physically become feeble, restricting their driving in a one-sided manner is not an ideal option because those who live in transportation infrastructure-deficient areas could have trouble," said Oh Ju-suk, a KoROAD senior researcher.

"While seeking measures for accident-prone older drivers, the government also needs to do something to make their life convenient after returning their licenses."

For example, the Busan Metropolitan Government in July introduced an incentive system for older drivers who stop driving, which has greatly paid off.

Those voluntarily returning their driver's licenses will receive a 100,000 won ($88) voucher to take taxi or bus as part of social services, and will be rewarded with a variety of discounts on their spending ranging from hospitals, restaurants and clothing stores to opticians.

As of September, more than 3,200 older drivers turned in their licenses in Busan compared with 466 last year. Plus, the death toll from older drivers-involved accidents decreased to 15 from 27 year-on-year.

Under a change to the law, starting next year, drivers aged 75 or older have to take a driver's license aptitude test every three years ― a revision from every five.

Japan introduced the license return system in 1998 along with diverse discounting services for some facilities such as hotels, hot springs and shopping malls.

Under its road traffic law, drivers aged 75 and over have to go through a cognitive test and if dementia is suspected, they must consult a doctor. If the doctors confirm dementia, the driver's licenses are suspended or revoked.