Doctor urges science-based, not age-based, driver's license reforms

Taipei, May 21 (CNA) A medical doctor on Wednesday called for driver's license renewal policies to be based on scientific evidence rather than age alone, noting that young motorists are responsible for most traffic accidents in Taiwan.

Lee Ping-ing (李秉穎), an adjunct pediatric physician at National Taiwan University Hospital, made the remarks in a Facebook post amid government discussions to lower the age at which elderly drivers must renew their licenses from 75 to 70.

The proposal follows a fatal incident on Monday, in which a 78-year-old driver struck pedestrians in New Taipei's Sanxia District, killing three and injuring 12.

While acknowledging that accidents involving elderly drivers often result in more severe casualties, Lee emphasized that drivers aged 18 to 24 have the highest overall accident rates.

In 2020, the age group with the highest number of drivers responsible for causing traffic accidents was 18-29 years, with 107,032 cases, accounting for 29.53 percent of all accidents, according to statistics from the National Police Agency.

"I don't see the need to single out older adults for stricter renewal rules," he wrote, arguing that such changes should stem from comprehensive data, not isolated incidents.

Speaking to the media later in the day, Lee said effective traffic safety reform requires root cause analysis.

He said that polices should be driven by evidence, not emotion, suggesting an in-depth comparison of accident rates across age groups, including minor, major, and fatal collisions.

Lee also criticized a proposed subsidy for elderly drivers who voluntarily surrender their licenses in exchange for a T-Pass, a regional multimodal public transit pass, arguing it would be ineffective in rural areas with poor transportation infrastructure.

His comments came as the Ministry of Health and Welfare pledged to provide medical assessments and professional support in response to new reforms proposed by Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) on Tuesday.

Some of the proposed reforms include tougher driving tests incorporating cognitive, hazard perception, and mobility evaluations, enhanced education on traffic safety for violators, and tailored safety programs for elderly drivers.

According to the government, the new system for senior drivers could be introduced as early as next year.

Speaking before a legislative session Wednesday, Chen said that the reforms were not solely a response to the Sanxia crash.

"We are also addressing issues such as high accident rates among young drivers and strengthening retraining and renewal systems," he said.

According to Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) data, traffic accidents involving elderly drivers have steadily increased since the senior license renewal system was introduced in 2017.

Chen acknowledged this trend, saying future assessments will prioritize hazard perception and cognitive ability using more effective methods.

The Sanxia crash has reignited debate over how to manage elderly drivers. In California, for example, drivers aged 70 and above must pass a vision test to renew their licenses and may be required to take written or road tests. A reporting system also allows for conditional licenses, balancing safety with older adults' mobility rights.