South Korea’s deadly Bucheon crash prompts calls for tougher rules for older drivers

At Jeil Market in South Korea’s Bucheon, Gyeonggi province, few ever imagined that a truck would surge into the crowd, as one did on Thursday, killing two people and leaving 19 others injured. “The truck came barrelling in just as I stepped forward to help a customer checking radishes,” a vendor said. “If I had stayed where I was, I could have died. Later, I told her how grateful I was.” Police have attributed the crash to driver error on the part of the 67-year-old at the wheel of the 1 tonne (1.1 ton) truck. The incident has revived debate over tightening regulations for older motorists after a series of fatal accidents. Last July, a 68-year-old driver struck pedestrians near Seoul City Hall, killing nine and injuring five. He claimed unintended acceleration, but an appeal court in August rejected the argument and sentenced him to five years in prison. A similar incident occurred last December, when a 74-year-old man drove into a traditional market in Yangcheon district, southwestern Seoul, killing one and injuring 12. These cases underscore a broader trend of an increasing number of accidents involving drivers aged 65 and older. Traffic accidents caused by this group rose 36 per cent, from roughly 31,000 in 2020 to more than 42,000 last year, according to the Korea Road Traffic Authority. During the same period, their share of all crashes rose from 14.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent – the highest since records began in 2005. As of last year, the group numbered 5.17 million – a 126 per cent increase since 2015, according to the National Assembly Budget Office. Over the same period, their share among all licensed drivers doubled from 7.6 per cent to 14.9 per cent, with the total projected to hit 9.83 million by 2050. Voluntary surrendering of licence South Korea’s efforts to reduce age-related crashes largely fall into two tracks: tighter oversight during license renewal and support for seniors who give up their licenses. Drivers aged 65 and older must renew their Class 2 licenses for cars and small trucks every five years, while it is three for those aged 75 and older. Drivers aged 70 and above must also undergo periodic aptitude tests, while those 75 and older are required to complete dementia screenings. Seniors who surrender their licenses can receive 100,000 to 500,000 won (US$69 to US$345), depending on the municipality. The programme began in Busan in 2018 and has since expanded nationwide. Still, the policy’s impact is limited. Only 2.2 per cent gave up their licenses last year as incentives fall short. A 2019 survey by the Korea Rural Economic Institute found that 94.8 per cent of farmers aged 65 and older said they would not give up their licenses, citing no health problems or a lack of transport alternatives. Other countries also have measures to curb high-risk driving among older people. In Japan, drivers aged 75 and older receive subsidies to buy cars equipped with advanced driver-help systems or to add the technology to their current vehicles. Those in that age group who surrender their licenses can get taxi discounts, and cognitive tests are required for renewal. In the United States, policies vary by state but generally include shorter license renewal cycles, stricter vision tests and mandatory in-person renewals to better oversee elderly drivers. Experts say South Korea should expand support for older drivers who give up their licenses while also providing tailored help for those who depend on their cars. Choi Jae-won, a professor at the Korea Road Traffic Authority, said one-time incentives for seniors who surrender their licenses should be strengthened and made continuous to address the low return rate. Expanding demand-responsive transit could be an effective policy, he said. This form of public transport, which detours to pick up callers between fixed stops, has reported strong results in Busan’s Gijang county and Gangseo district. “For older residents in rural areas, not driving can mean they can’t even buy basic necessities like a roll of toilet paper,” Choi said, stressing that policies must account for their needs. This article was first published by The Korea Times

South Korea’s deadly Bucheon crash prompts calls for tougher rules for older drivers

Drivers aged 65 and above were responsible for 21.6 per cent of all crashes in the country last year – the highest since records began