Social Discussion Begins on Managing Elderly Drivers... Proposal for 'Conditional Licenses' Raised

Seoul City-Kwonikwi, Expert Participation Public Debate
"Enhance the Effectiveness of Elderly Returns and Reduce Side Effects"
Utilizing Advanced Technology... Proposing Driver Assistance Devices, etc.

Social discussions on managing elderly drivers are beginning. As the proportion of elderly drivers increases due to population aging and concerns over traffic accidents grow, the direction for improving their licensing system is set to be addressed.

According to Seoul City on the 20th, the city will hold a public debate in the afternoon together with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to discuss institutional improvements for traffic safety and accident prevention. This event is aimed at discussing ways to improve the elderly driver licensing system and exploring traffic policies that reflect demographic changes in preparation for a super-aged society.

Reviewing the report titled "Overseas Cases and Implications of Elderly Driver License Management Systems" published last year by the National Assembly Research Service, the number of elderly drivers is increasing faster than the elderly 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. If the current trend continues, by 2040, out of 17.24 million elderly people, 13.16 million (76.3%) will hold a driver's license.

The problem lies in the lax management measures for these drivers. The government mandates a 3-year license renewal cycle for elderly drivers, requiring cognitive ability tests and traffic safety education upon renewal, but these measures lack effectiveness. Even local governments provide up to 300,000 KRW incentives to elderly drivers who voluntarily surrender their licenses, but the surrender rate remains around 2% annually.

Therefore, the upcoming debate is expected to cover detailed plans such as improving the high-risk driver licensing system, enhancing safety facilities, and strengthening measures to prevent drunk driving and traffic accidents. Professor Hansangjin from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies pointed out in a pre-released briefing material before the debate that "the current license surrender system uses a uniform age criterion, and the surrender rate is only 2%, with many elderly who no longer drive simply surrendering their 'drawer licenses'." He added, "From an accident prevention perspective, priority should be given to elderly drivers with physical and mental decline who are more likely to cause accidents, increasing the effectiveness of surrender while minimizing side effects. Instead of focusing on total surrender numbers or rates, more weight should be given to surrender rates among those aged 75 or older, or 85 or older."

He also suggested that more weight should be given to license surrenders by elderly residents in urban areas rather than rural ones. Regarding incentives, he analyzed that instead of uniformly providing 100,000 KRW to those aged 65 and over who surrender their licenses, a system offering 150,000 KRW for those aged 75 and over and 50,000 KRW for those aged 65 to 74 would yield higher cost-benefit efficiency.

Conditional licensing systems and strengthening pedestrian safety facilities were cited as policies worth considering. Conditional licenses would be issued to those who fail aptitude tests due to physical disabilities or mental illnesses, drivers who feel their driving ability has significantly declined, or applicants requested by third parties. However, measures to reduce concerns about 'rights infringement' are also necessary. To this end, introducing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and other advanced technologies to prevent accidents involving elderly drivers, as well as improving traffic facilities such as three-dimensional traffic calming installations (e.g., speed bumps), were proposed. Additionally, measures to enhance pedestrian safety, including 'pedestrian refuge islands' at crosswalks, pedestrian-activated crosswalk signals, and installing sidewalks along national and local roads, were recommended for consideration.

Meanwhile, the debate will include participants such as Sangyong Yoo, Senior Researcher at Samsung Traffic Safety Culture Research Institute; Yunho Lee, Secretary-General of the Safe Living Practice Citizens' Coalition; Wonshin Kim, Public Affairs Manager at the Korea Insurance Development Institute; and officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the National Police Agency. Jongjang Yoon, Director of Seoul City’s Transportation Office, said, "We hope that this debate will yield new insights into the direction traffic policies should take in the era of aging."