The Tokyo Metropolitan Police have begun a campaign urging elderly drivers to "have the courage to give up your license," according to a message on its website. This effort is in response to the mounting accident rates of Japan's rapidly aging population. Over the past six years, the overall number of accidents has declined in Japan by 20 percent while accidents involving drivers over the age of 70 have skyrocketed by 35 percent. Elderly drivers are being offered various discounts and perks from over 30 different businesses if they are willing to relinquish their licenses.We can't count the number of times we've heard someone complain about elderly drivers, and if they are willing to hand in their keys or feel as if they may be a hazard, this could be a winning solution. On the other hand, this movement could present an additional problem to the already sagging auto market in Japan, as older drivers make up a large chunk of new car buyers.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd., Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
murplepoo @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:18PM
lovin' the rx8 cop car.
I recently wrote a paper on this subject, but in America and found that very elderly drivers have a higher accident rate than new drivers. This is a great idea, but not necessarily an effective solution.
ray @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:01PM
RX8 is nothing there in Japan, they even got RX7 FD, R34 GTR, STI, EVO, NSX cop cars. and i think they are just way cooler than a Gallardo Polizia.
Xcountryflyer @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:39AM
I like the RX-8 cop car too. We get stuck with vintage Crown Vics for the most part here.
BOB JAFFEE @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:44PM
MANY ELDERLY DRIVERS ARE RELUCTANT TO GIVE UP THEIR DRIVING PRIVELIGES FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR INDEPENDENCE. MANY ELDERLY PERSONS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THEY LIVE TOO FAR OR IMPAIRED AND UNABLE TO USE IT. TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ELDERLY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE A NECESSITY. AUTHORITIES CLAIM THEY CANNOT DEDICATE FUNDS FOR THE ELDERLY TRANSPORTATION.
WITH THE AGING OF THE BABY BOOMERS, WHO WILL BE REACHING SIXTY-FIVE PLUS, WE ARE FACING A CRISES.
Lawrence Conrad @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:06PM
you are a fat headed idiot.
Rosemarie Pandiscio @ Apr 4th 2008 10:23AM
Drivers of every age should be tested on an individual basis. My 2 policeman sons and 1 policeman son-in-law say, speed is the number killer on the road. Look at the car commercials!! Burning rubber, spinning, driving "where no man should never go" bragging about H.P. Inexperienced young people, expecially girls, scare me to death. They are behind the wheel of a legal weapon, changing lanes constantly, sitting low in the saddle. I agree with you on many issues, but why do insurance companies have such high rates for young people? Lower for kids with good grades?
navin @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:25PM
I wish the US did something like this. Or at least they should test the elderly rigorously to see if they are still able to drive well.
geo.stewart @ Apr 2nd 2008 9:30PM
Senior Citizen yearly driver test:
go to your local NASCAR or other paved loop track and drive your age for a no. of laps equal to your age and hit at least 1/2 the marks without scratching the car. When you fail to be able to do that, hand over the keys.
psarhjinian @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:10PM
Old people vote, young people don't.
Old people have money (or at least equity). Young people have debt.
Old people have time to take action. Young people are either doing stupid teenage crap, trying to live through school, or raising toddlers and are too busy to join a citizen's comittee.
Those three reasons are why you'll see politicians and law enforcement officials willing to slap six kinds of hell out of people under 21 for putting a fart-can muffler on a car, but won't revoke a three-DUI senior citizen's license even after he's played Carmageddon through a suburban neighbourhood.
Pardon my theatrics, but I've personally seen older folks get away with things that someone younger (and I'm 32, not exactly that young) wouldn't dream of.
spacegravity4me @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:20AM
I wish the US did something like this. Or at least they should test the elderly rigorously to see if they are still able to drive well.
Look, I'm sure you mean well, but if somebody tried to take away my rights (and yes dern it, it is a fricking RIGHT!) I'd almost be willing to kill over it. I'm not saying it doesn't have some purpose but one day it could be you, and quite frankly it's discrimination. People that propose things like that make me sick. When it's your door they come knocking on, taking away your freedom and saying you are inadequate or incompetent, then you'll be singing a different tune. Some things should be done for the good of society, but some things, especially when it is messing with the rights ,and yes, feelings, of the individual, regardless of purpose, society should just back the frick off before it crosses the line. That's just my two cents man. Do unto others. I don't want to stop them from driving cause when I'm old I want to be able to drive too, otherwise part of me would rather be dead then live in a controlled world such as that, and I'm only 22. No matter though, when I'm old we'll have long had self driving cars so it shouldn't really be an issue. I'm quite sure of it. Peace. Oh, and can I just say that i am mainly talking about people who would propose laws that would extremely hassle the elderly with tests and such or propose that they not be able to drive at all past a certain age. So it's not directed at you personally, not really. I was going to say it all anyway, just figured I'd say it all in one comment since I'm short on time. You got Alzheimer's or something that's totally different, but a perfectly sane, healthy adult. I say drive till you drop! That is all.
CH @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:01AM
You got Alzheimer's or something that's totally different, but a perfectly sane, healthy adult. I say drive till you drop! That is all.
It is a test to see if the people really are still able to drive a car in public. A perfectly sane, healthy adult is supposed to pass this test and therefore I see no reason to take away his licence, but some people just represent a danger on public roads. You know the sight doesn't get better at age and reflexes diminish as well.
Just as an example, in Spain all persons with a drivers licence have to complete a regular test to prove that they are still up to date with road legislation and driving abilities. As far as I know it is every ten years for young drivers and gets to be every five and later every two years the older you get. My father, a perfectly sane and healthy adult of 60+ has no problems in passing this test.
Inclosing, if you are getting old and someone tells you that you are a danger to other people on the street due to bad vision or other influences, wouldn’t you agree to give away your licence voluntarily?
John R @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:28AM
@sapcegravity:
Driving isn't a right.
tekdemon @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:45AM
spacegravity, how is it discrimination if people who fail a driving test get their license taken away?! When you were a new driver you had to take a test to get the license to begin with, and if elderly people have worse accident rates than new drivers why shouldn't they have to take a test to show that they can still drive?
There are relicensing tests for all sorts of professions, it's not a discriminatory thing, but you don't want people who've forgotten how to do something right to keep doing it anyways.
And btw? If I got old and couldn't drive safely I'd stop doing it, or go and spend time training myself so I could drive safely again and pass the driving test. And if that wasn't possible I'd bite the bullet. It's not like I expect to be able to play snowboard/run/play basketball like I do now when I'm 85, so why the heck should driving be any different? I'll happily substitute in golf for my leisure time, and if this means I have to take a bus to the golf course (or hire a driver/buy a car that can drive itself [I'm only in my mid-twenties so by the time I'm 85 they'll probably have this), so be it. Ramming my car through a crowd of people, then feeling unbelievably guilty and being sued penniless isn't my idea of a fun retirement.
2004m3driver @ Apr 3rd 2008 12:46PM
@Spacegravity
Someone needs to be rigorously tested...
one of the first things you learn is
DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE
I will gladly give up my license if I failed to pass the simplest of driving courses. I don't want to put other's people families at risk because I view its my RIGHT to get on the road unequipped. I can tell you have a hard time paying attention to anything, cause otherwise you would have read where he mentioned elderly people should be tested at a certain age not revoked of their license.
spacegravity4me @ Apr 5th 2008 10:46PM
yes... yes.... yes.... and yes..... I agree with you guys. I know, safety first. I would give up my license if I deemed myself unable to drive safely. You have to think about the other people on the road. However, if you are a healthy person who knows what you're doing, I DO see driving as a right, so long as you are properly equipped to do so SAFELY. But don't give me that privilege non-sense. I mean I suppose it depends on how you view it, but I think ultimately, it is a right, provided you can do it safely. It's all words. People will still do what people will do, and that is control other people against their will, even if it's under the guise of what is right for society. Control is control. Society, can suck it. I'm not gonna say anymore because from this point on is where I would start to get irrational and say a bunch of things that I would be afraid would make you guys think I was crazy. Well... I am crazy, crazy for wanting to believe in a world were people can be trusted with their own judgments and "we" as a society don't have to go around policing each other until the day we die, and then tax the dead person for being dead. It's a cold uncaring world sometimes.... and I for one don't care to ACCEPT it. Yes, I admitted it, I have a hard time accepting things that suck balls. Anyway, I've got some issues and I'm working on them. SAFE DRIVING FOR ALL! WOO HOO DEMOCRACY AND SOCIETY! I guess I'm an idealist, and in this world, being a hardcore, stubborn idealist, and being crazy, might as well be the same thing. Thanks for the trouble. Peace- if you can manage.
Carlos @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:29PM
They should do this if Florida and I mean ASAP! This place is heavens waiting room, and everyone of them drive massive boats for cars.
Mike @ Apr 2nd 2008 10:43PM
It used to be....they all moved to PA now for some reason....we have the highest number of 60+ residents in the country, if I remember right....
annalie @ Apr 3rd 2008 2:44PM
OMG! YES!!! I live in Miami...1987 Lincoln Towncar and Ford Crown Vics own this place...
Keith Griffin @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:31PM
IIHS would disagree with you. It has determined that older drivers are more at risk to themselves than others. And, as one AAA spokesman said, senior drivers tend to be self-limiting, which means they recognize their liabilities and avoid driving in situations (such as at night) where they're not comfortable. Now, if only their left blinkers could be self-limiting while driving in Florida ...
Dax @ Apr 2nd 2008 8:38PM
IIHS is a joke. I see the danger of terrible elderly drivers EVER SINGLE DAY.