TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will impose stricter driver’s license renewal rules for senior citizens, lowering the age for renewal from 75 to 70, with the new measures set to take effect in May.
The policy aims to reduce accidents involving elderly drivers, following a fatal crash in New Taipei last year in which a 78-year-old driver killed two teenagers and a woman. According to media reports, the driver had passed a license renewal test only months before the incident, per UDN.
Under the new system, drivers aged 70 and above must undergo a medical assessment before renewing their licenses. They will also be offered free courses on updated traffic regulations and safety education.
Drivers aged 70 to 74 who pass a physical examination may renew their licenses until age 75. Those aged 75 and above will continue to follow a three-year renewal cycle. However, drivers in this age group who commit violations leading to accidents will be required to complete practical training at a driving school at their own expense before renewal.
The revised regulations require only a physical fitness test for drivers aged 70 to 74, while those 75 and older must also complete a cognitive assessment.
Taiwan’s cognitive testing system is modeled after Japan’s, where similar requirements have drawn criticism due to a reported pass rate of about 96%, raising concerns about effectiveness. In Taiwan, failure rates for comparable tests have exceeded 20% in recent years, per UDN.
Some attributed the discrepancy in part to differences in testing methods, including the administration of memory tests. In Japan, examinees are typically given one to two minutes to memorize items, while in Taiwan, information may be removed immediately after presentation.
Japan introduced stricter senior driver renewal rules in 2009, but accident rates among elderly drivers have continued to rise, partly due to the growing number of older drivers. Taiwan has seen a similar trend since implementing its senior license renewal system in 2016, although the increase has recently begun to stabilize amid heightened public awareness of traffic safety.
One of the most common causes of accidents involving elderly drivers is pedal misapplication, where the accelerator is mistaken for the brake, leading to sudden unintended acceleration. Critics add that evaluations of senior drivers may not reflect a driver’s real-time condition, noting that factors such as medication for chronic illnesses could impair awareness and reaction times.
Senior advocates also note limited public transportation options for seniors, particularly in rural areas. Lack of transportation options has led some elderly people to continue driving. Advocates for seniors argue that lowering the renewal age without improving alternative transportation options could disproportionately affect seniors’ mobility.
Others are calling for broader measures, including better family awareness and support, to improve overall safety for elderly individuals, whether driving or traveling by other means.
