[Inside Chodong] The Everyday Risks Posed by Poor Management of Elderly Drivers

According to a report released last year by the National Assembly Research Service (Overseas Cases and Implications of Elderly Driver’s License Management Systems), the number of elderly drivers is increasing faster than the population aged 65 and over. From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of the elderly population was 4.6%, while the number of elderly license holders increased by 10.2% during the same period, which is more than twice as fast.

If this trend continues, by around 2040, 13.16 million (76.3%) of the 17.24 million elderly population will hold driver’s licenses. Compared to the forecasted 10.59 million next year, this is an increase of 4.98 million (47%), suggesting that the rise in accidents involving elderly drivers may already be a foreseeable reality.

Although the cause of the accident has not been determined, it is regrettable that the atmosphere only changed after the “vehicle rampage tragedy” in the heart of Seoul, which resulted in nine deaths. With the perpetrator revealed to be a 68-year-old driver, calls for stricter risk management of elderly drivers have become stronger than ever. In the past National Assembly sessions, proposals to partially restrict elderly driving were repeatedly defeated due to negative public opinion that such measures infringed on the mobility rights of the elderly, but the rapid shift in public sentiment seems to be prompting political action.

There have been management measures targeting drivers aged 75 and over. The government requires these drivers to renew their licenses every three years and mandates cognitive ability tests and traffic safety education upon renewal. Drivers aged 65 and over are also encouraged to participate in traffic safety education. Financial incentives are provided as well. Local governments offer cash incentives, giving up to 300,000 won to elderly drivers who surrender their licenses, but the surrender rate remains around 2% annually, indicating the ineffectiveness of this approach.

Of course, driving restrictions should not be imposed solely based on age. For some elderly individuals, driving is directly linked not only to mobility rights but also to livelihood. Therefore, precise and thorough alternatives must be developed starting now. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the funeral hall for the city hall employees who died in the recent accident and raised the issue of public discussion on “elderly drivers surrendering their licenses” and “conditional license issuance.”

In Illinois, USA, drivers aged between 75 and 80 must renew their licenses periodically and are required to take a road test. If deemed unfit, only a “restricted license” with limited duration or driving hours is issued. In New South Wales, Australia, drivers aged 75 and over must undergo annual medical evaluations and practical driving tests, while New Zealand requires a doctor’s certificate for license renewal. Japan, a “super-aged society,” announced on the 28th of last month that it will mandate the installation of devices that automatically prevent accidents caused by pedal misapplication, demonstrating a commitment to managing “pedal misapplication by elderly drivers.”

The Korean National Police Agency is currently conducting R&D to improve the “conditional driver’s license system.” This includes developing a “driving ability evaluation system” and establishing “standards for conditional driver’s licenses,” but there are differing opinions on implementing conditional licenses for elderly drivers. A good starting point may be to examine the absence of practical driving ability assessments in the evaluation items required for elderly drivers during license renewal.

If public demand for managing elderly drivers fades over time, it is likely that politicians will retreat once again. Given that the cause of the City Hall Station tragedy is unlikely to be sudden unintended acceleration, failing to establish effective countermeasures this time would be tantamount to neglecting public safety. The lack of a social infrastructure system suited to the super-aged society, a key pillar of population policy, will increasingly unsettle us in various areas going forward. Deputy Chief Reporter Bae Kyunghwan, Social Affairs Department