[4 Million Elderly Drivers②] "What to Drive If Voluntarily Surrendered?" Transportation Infrastructure Without Alternatives

No Budget to Return Driver's License
Trend of Disappearing Public Transportation
Elderly Restricted After Returning License
"Must Approach as a Long-Term Elderly Welfare Issue"

A (66) living in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam. Although he is now at the age to return his driver's license, he has no intention of doing so. Only 10 buses enter the village per day, and even these stop running after 6 p.m. He cannot even dream of returning his license for fear that his family members might be left helpless if they fall ill late at night. A said, "If I return my license, I worry that I won't be able to cope with bad situations," adding, "I think I will only consider returning my license when I become so old that I can no longer see ahead."

Although the voluntary license return system for elderly drivers has been in place for five years, seniors still avoid voluntarily returning their licenses. They cited the ineffective support system and severely insufficient transportation infrastructure as the reasons.

According to the government and local governments on the 3rd, the voluntary license return system for elderly drivers, which started in 2018 in Busan, has been implemented nationwide for five years. When elderly drivers bring their licenses to the community center and return them voluntarily, various supports are provided to enable them to use public transportation and other services.

However, there are many criticisms that such support measures are grossly insufficient for the elderly. Until last year, the support fund provided by Seoul City to elderly drivers who returned their licenses was only 100,000 won. Although the 'Partial Amendment Ordinance for Support to Prevent Traffic Accidents of Elderly Drivers in Seoul,' proposed by Seoul City Councilor Jang Taeyong on December 23 last year, passed and raised the support fund standard to 300,000 won, there is a high possibility that the 300,000 won will not be received due to lack of budget. Councilor Jang said, "It is difficult to raise the incentive immediately because the budget has not been secured," adding, "Since the amendment has passed, we will strive to secure the budget later so that the incentive can be increased."

The situation is even more serious in local areas. Some local governments with a high elderly population have raised the support fund to as much as 500,000 won, but due to budget issues, they have not been able to properly collect licenses. Suncheon City in Jeonnam significantly increased the license return support fund from 100,000 won to 500,000 won starting last year. Thanks to this, the number of returns, which was only 256 in 2021, surged to 276 in just January and February last year. However, as the budget ran out, they could not accept license return applications afterward. Although additional budget was secured through a supplementary budget in September last year, only 22 more applications were received.

The problem is mobility... Without public transportation, returning a license is 'out of the question'

The biggest problem is mobility. The moment elderly people give up driving, they become immobilized. Due to COVID-19 and local extinction, transportation companies suffering from financial difficulties have reduced or eliminated route operations, worsening the transportation infrastructure.

In April last year, Namwon Express Bus Terminal in Jeonbuk disappeared after complaining of financial difficulties. The same applies to other regions. In 2020, Seongju Intercity Bus Terminal in Gyeongbuk and Yeongdong Intercity Bus Terminal in Chungbuk closed, and in 2021, the Yeongam County Bus Terminal company in Jeonnam shut down. The metropolitan area is no different. Seongnam General Bus Terminal operated only until December 31 last year. Goyang Hwajeong Intercity Bus Terminal recently announced its intention to close.

Each local government supports transportation companies with budgets to secure elderly mobility, but they could not stop the declining number of passengers. As of 2021, the number of passengers using city and rural buses was 3,713.82 million, a 28% decrease compared to 2019. Professor Lee Soobeom of the Department of Transportation Engineering at the University of Seoul pointed out, "There are elderly-only public transportation options such as call buses and 100-won taxis, but due to budget issues, it is not easy to increase them," adding, "Most agricultural area local governments are struggling financially."

Experts point out that infrastructure problems must be resolved from a long-term elderly welfare perspective to lead to license returns. Professor Park Muhyuk of the Road Traffic Authority said, "As government finances are being streamlined, there has been a part that did not consider the ripple effects of elderly drivers returning their licenses," adding, "Nevertheless, investment in transportation infrastructure should be approached from a welfare perspective. Infrastructure investment can solve not only elderly mobility but also safety issues."