TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Drivers aged 75 and older in Taiwan have the highest pedestrian fatality rate in car accidents, 2.4 times higher than drivers aged 41 to 64, according to Taipei Medical University Injury Prevention and Control Graduate Institute Professor Pai Chih-wei (白志偉).
Pai cited data from the National Police Agency, which compiled information from approximately 426,000 car accidents that occurred between 2011 and 2023, per CNA.
The issue of elderly driver safety has come under renewed scrutiny following a fatal crash in New Taipei’s Sanxia District in May, when a 78-year-old man, surnamed Yu (余), ran into pedestrians and vehicles. The incident left three people dead and 12 injured.
In response, the Highway Bureau and Taipei Medical University jointly held a seminar on Tuesday to explore policy measures aimed at improving the management and safety of elderly drivers.
Chang Yao-hui (張耀輝), an official at the bureau, said that the number of licensed drivers aged 70 and above in Taiwan is expected to increase from 1.82 million to 2.72 million within the next decade. To address the risks associated with this demographic shift, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications plans to lower the mandatory license renewal age for elderly drivers from 75 to 70, with the policy set to take effect next year.
To help older drivers understand the updated requirements, the ministry will hold more than 20 informational sessions nationwide. Chang emphasized that the goal of the initiative is not to revoke licenses from older drivers, but to support them in maintaining safe driving habits.
However, Pai expressed concern that the license renewal reforms alone may have a limited impact on reducing accident risks among elderly drivers. He noted that older drivers often experience significant declines in vision and reaction time during emergencies, suggesting that broader efforts are needed.
Pai urged the government to focus on improving road design and expanding access to public transportation to reduce the need for seniors to rely on personal vehicles.
In response, Chang said the ministry is implementing key strategies to enhance driving safety for older adults. These include strengthening cognitive assessments and requiring completion of traffic safety education courses as part of the license renewal process. Additional measures include offering TPass public transportation subsidies and mandating remedial training for senior drivers involved in traffic violations or accidents.
