[4 Million Elderly Drivers①] License Surrender Rate Among Elderly Drivers Is Only Around 1%

License Surrender Rate Dropped from 2% to 1% Range
31,841 Traffic Accidents Involving Elderly Drivers Last Year
"Periodic Inspections Needed to Prevent Accidents in Advance"

On December 13 last year, on a road in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, an SUV suddenly crashed into the wall of an apartment building by the roadside. The driver inside the car was an elderly woman in her 80s named Kim. While making a left turn at an alley about 100 meters away from the apartment wall, she hit a vehicle going straight from behind, then sped across a six-lane road and damaged the apartment wall. Kim stated that she confused the accelerator pedal with the brake pedal, causing the accident.

The number of elderly drivers aged 65 and over is increasing every year, but the number of people surrendering their driver's licenses is decreasing. Experts pointed out that since elderly drivers may have reduced cognitive abilities and crisis response skills, the government should actively implement policies encouraging license surrender.

According to the National Police Agency on the 2nd, as of October last year, the license surrender rate among elderly drivers was only 1.7%. This is a decline from 2.1% in 2021, dropping into the 1% range. The number of elderly drivers holding licenses was 4,337,080, an increase of about 300,000 from the previous year, but the number of surrendered licenses decreased by 10,000, totaling 73,976.

Traffic accidents involving elderly drivers are sharply increasing. According to the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Traffic Safety Culture Research Institute, traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers in 2021 numbered 31,841, a 19.2% increase compared to 2017. In contrast, traffic accidents involving non-elderly drivers decreased by 9.7% during the same period. This trend is expected to accelerate further as society ages. As of July 1 last year, the elderly population aged 65 and over reached approximately 9,018,000. This is the first time the number has surpassed 9 million.

Voluntary License Surrender System Implemented, but Incentives Too Small Compared to Sense of Loss

Experts explained that driving incompetence due to cognitive decline, reduced response ability, and sudden health issues such as heart attacks among elderly drivers lead to accidents on the road. Professor Park Muhyuk of the Korea Road Traffic Authority said, "Not all elderly drivers are like this, but it is true that the abilities required for driving decline with age," adding, "No one can deny the need for special management of elderly drivers."

The government has implemented a voluntary license surrender system, but the response has been underwhelming. Although local governments have ordinances related to voluntary license surrender for elderly drivers, there is little incentive to actually surrender licenses. The incentives gained are minimal compared to the sense of loss experienced when giving up a license. Professor Choi Jaewon of the Korea Road Traffic Authority said, "Nowadays, elderly drivers believe they can still drive on their own, especially in this era of longevity," adding, "For those who rely on driving as a profession, surrendering a license is even more devastating."

Experts emphasize the need to induce elderly drivers to surrender their licenses by providing appropriate incentives and systems. Since the constitution guarantees freedom of movement, coercive methods should be avoided. Professor Park said, "The most important thing is to prevent accidents in advance through regular examinations," emphasizing, "Currently, aptitude tests for elderly drivers only include vision and hearing tests, but a system to assess driving proficiency should be established even if it requires more time and cost."