The current Road Traffic Act prescribes a general renewal period of ten years for driver’s licenses, but reduces the period to five years and three years for older drivers aged 65 years or over and those aged 75 years or over, respectively. It also prescribes devices to promote safe driving in older drivers, such as a requirement for holders of Class I and Class II driver’s licenses who are aged 70 years or over to undergo regular aptitude tests in case of renewing their driver’s licenses.

Nonetheless, the number of traffic accidents caused by older drivers (aged 65 years or over) in the past five years has increased by over 52% from 17,590 cases in 2013 to 26,713 cases in 2017. This trend is expected to continue due to the growing older population.

Many studies have demonstrated that older drivers have poorer driving skills than other drivers due to weakened eyesight (static visual acuity, dynamic visual acuity, field of view), object recognition, hearing, reflexes, muscle strength, etc. In this light, there is a need for regular driving ability tests in order to ensure public safety and prevent traffic accidents in advance.

Accordingly, the Amendment prescribes a driver’s license renewal period as three years for drivers aged 75 years or over and less than 80 years, as two years for drivers aged 80 years or over and less than 85 years, and as one year for drivers aged 85 years or over, thereby aiming to prevent accidents caused by older drivers and ensure public safety (Article 87, paragraph 1).

Prescribe a driver’s license renewal period of three years for drivers aged 75 years or over and less than 80 years, two years for drivers aged 80 years or over and less than 85 years, and one year for drivers aged 85 years or over (Article 87, paragraph 1)