Older Drivers

[Anchor Lead]

In Korea's aging society, traffic accidents involving older drivers are sharply on the rise. Critics call for age group specific measures to deal with the situation.

[Pkg]

The number of traffic accidents resulting from the carelessness of older drivers is on the rise. Road incidents involving senior drivers 65 and older numbered 23-thousand cases last year alone. In particular, accidents due to careless driving occurred three times more frequently among drivers 75 or older compared to drivers under 65. The hospitalization rate following an accident was also four times higher in this age group of 75 older, and the period of hospitalization was also 50 percent longer.

[Soundbite] Prof. Jeon Hong-jin(Mental Health Dept., Samsung Medical Center) : "From the age of 65, an increase of 5 years typicallyraises the percentage of those who will see a drop in reaction speed and perception capabilities by around 10%."

This is why some are calling for more detailed, age-specific measures to deal with older drivers. It's also necessary to take note of precedents overseas, including Japan's mandatory perceptive ability tests for drivers over 70 and Europe's compensation to older drivers who turn in their drivers license in the form of transportation fees.