New rules may send seniors back to driving school, most of the surveyed drivers agree
A large part of all traffic accidents is caused by two groups of drivers: those with newly acquired driving licenses and those at the opposite end of the spectrum. While the state has introduced new measures for young drivers in recent years, it hasn't given much thought to seniors yet. However, this could change in the coming years and return seniors to driving schools.
Minor bumps, severe traffic accidents, but also a large number of cases of driving in the wrong direction on highways and expressways. These situations have one thing in common in recent years, a large category of drivers - seniors, who are often the cause. The number of senior drivers is increasing very rapidly, not only on domestic roads as cars become a part of everyday household operations, but also with the extension of the productive age. As shown by accident statistics, after young drivers with "fresh licenses", it's the seniors, who have had their licenses for a much longer time, behind a large number of traffic accidents.
In the case of the first category of the most frequent participants and mainly the culprits of traffic accidents, i.e., young people aged 18-24, the Ministry of Transport has been responding for some time by adjusting the points system or introducing a driver's license from the age of seventeen, when the young driver is under the guidance of a mentor.
Fresh driving school graduates must be significantly more cautious this year also due to the so-called probationary license. It is valid for the first two years of their driving careers, and during this period, drivers are under greater scrutiny. If they commit a traffic offense rated six points or more, including a driving ban during this period, they must undergo a transport psychology interview and special training for novice drivers with an evaluation ride.
In the case of seniors, the situation is completely different. In many cases, not only due to common health reasons but also due to the natural decline in cognitive functions with age, the driving of these drivers on roads becomes increasingly unsafe.
Whether a senior driver is entitled to keep their driving license is influenced "only" by a general practitioner during the mandatory examination. However, it must be noted that such a checkup is usually not very detailed, and a general practitioner is hardly able to detect all the factors influencing a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle.
Precisely for this reason, a large part of Germans, specifically 76 percent according to a recent survey by the Forsa company on behalf of the TÜV Association, agreed with the introduction of mandatory driving skills checks for drivers over 75 years old. According to the majority, 80 percent, older drivers should have their driving licenses revoked if they are no longer capable of driving vehicles.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament recently discussed adjustments to laws that would set testing of driving abilities after the age of 70. However, according to German TÜV, merely testing drivers and potentially revoking driving licenses would not be appropriate, and the solution could instead be mandatory driving with feedback for drivers over 75 years old.
During the mandatory drive with an instructor, they would receive feedback on what they are doing right and what wrong. Instructors could also inform them about what to improve in their driving and any new traffic regulations.
Whatever the changes may be, it is certain that lawmakers will have to increasingly address this issue in the upcoming years, especially due to the aforementioned rise in the working age across EU countries, primarily for road safety reasons. However, in the future, it is possible that nothing of the sort will be necessary because with the advent of modern electric cars and autonomous driving systems, driving skills may no longer be required in vehicles.