Pensioners will soon have to prove their fitness to drive from the age of 70

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Created: 3/8/2023 5:11 am

From: amy walker

Split

The EU wants to tighten the rules for driving. According to the plans from Brussels, seniors over the age of 70 will have to regularly prove that they are still fit to drive.

Brussels – The European Union has a vision: by 2050 there should be no more road deaths in the EU, by 2030 the number should be halved. A highly ambitious goal, especially when you know the current figures. In 2022, 20,600 people lost their lives on the roads.

That’s an increase from the two pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, when under 20,000 people died. In order to achieve the big goal, the EU is planning a major driver’s license reform, which, among other things, should improve road safety. One of the requirements: in the future, the roadworthiness of drivers over 70 should be checked every five years.

Hand in your driving license when you are old: This currently applies in Germany

In Germany, the fitness to drive of seniors is currently not regularly checked. Anyone who has passed their driver’s license test usually receives a lifetime driver’s license. But of course there are situations in which the authorities can decide that a person should no longer drive. For example, the driving license authority can order a trip with an expert who will check your fitness to drive – and then, if necessary, revoke your driver’s license.

In addition, seniors can voluntarily decide to hand in the rag or organize a trip with an appraiser. Understandably, this step is difficult for many: admitting that you may no longer be able to do something that you have been able to do for most of your life is hard. Driving a car means independence and freedom of movement.

Nevertheless, there are increasing numbers of voices in this country calling for seniors to have their fitness to drive regularly checked. In some EU countries, drivers over the age of 70 are regularly tested to see whether they can really still drive. The EU now wants to introduce this for all member states.

EU driver’s license reform: validity of driver’s licenses will be changed

According to the European Commission’s draft law, the reform is intended to change the duration of driving licenses. They would then be valid for 15 years across the EU instead of the previous ten years. In addition, driver’s licenses are to become digital so that the renewal can then also be processed online. However, the 15-year validity should no longer apply to everyone over 70: Seniors will then only receive driving licenses that are valid for five years. And this should make it possible to regularly check the seniors’ fitness to drive.

The extent to which this is then checked should continue to be a decision of the member states. This means that the member states can also leave it at that, when the driver renews his driving licence, he has to assure himself that he is still able to drive. However, according to the draft, should it become clear “when the formalities are being processed” that the applicant does not (or no longer) meet medical standards, a medical examination can then be ordered. Means: If the driver’s license authority wants that, then an expert has to check the driver.

New minimum medical requirements for driving licenses

The minimum medical requirements that a person must meet in order to get a driver’s license or have it renewed are very extensive. The following is a summary of the requirements:

• Motorists must have at least 0.5 dioptres with glasses or contact lenses
• If an eye disease is diagnosed, the driver must have his vision checked regularly by a doctor
• A driver’s license should not be issued for diseases of the musculoskeletal system that make it difficult to use a vehicle
• In the case of cardiovascular diseases, a doctor must certify that you are fit to drive
• Drivers who have diabetes should have their fitness to drive checked every ten years
• Anyone who regularly suffers from severe hypoglycaemia should no longer have a driver’s license.
• Drivers with neurological complaints need a doctor’s certificate of fitness to drive (applies in particular to people with apnea)
• Drivers with epilepsy can only have or keep a driver’s license if they have not had a seizure for a year; Epileptics need regular medical check-ups unless they haven’t had a seizure for five years
• Driver’s licenses are not issued to people who have severe cognitive or intellectual disabilities. This includes age-related changes
• Driver’s licenses are not issued to people who regularly abuse alcohol or drugs

In many of these cases, fitness to drive is already being checked by doctors in Germany. This is also the case with dementia or Alzheimer’s.