🚨 Conditional Driver's License: Traffic Safety and Mobility Rights in an Aging Society

Today Korean Social News | 2025.06.10

📌 Police Consider Conditional Licenses for Drivers with Dementia and Other Conditions to Address High-Risk Driving Accidents

💬 As accidents caused by drivers with dementia and other medical conditions continue to occur, police are considering introducing a 'conditional driver's license' system. This system would allow high-risk drivers with reduced driving abilities to drive only under specific conditions. A Seoul National University research team has proposed a driving fitness evaluation system and emphasized the need for a third-party reporting system. However, concerns about violating elderly people's mobility rights are expected to cause controversy, and experts say public consensus is needed.

Summary

• A conditional driver's license allows people with limited driving abilities to drive only under specific conditions.
• This is a response to increasing accidents by drivers with dementia and other conditions as society ages.
• The key challenge is finding balance between ensuring traffic safety and protecting mobility rights.

1️⃣ Definition

Conditional driver's license means a system that allows people with reduced physical or mental abilities to drive only under specific conditions instead of completely prohibiting them from driving. Simply put, it allows limited driving within safe boundaries rather than completely banning driving.

This is being considered as a compromise solution to prevent traffic accidents by high-risk drivers that are increasing with Korea's aging society, while also protecting their basic right to mobility.

💡 Why is this important?

• Prevents traffic accidents by drivers with dementia and other conditions in an aging society.
• Protects mobility rights by allowing limited driving rather than complete license cancellation.
• Provides a realistic alternative that balances traffic safety and personal freedom.
• Acts as a social safety net protecting the safety of families and all community members.

2️⃣ Main Content and Operation Methods of Conditional Driver's License

📕 Main Conditions of Conditional Driver's License

• Conditional driver's licenses include various restrictions. Main conditions include:

  • Time restrictions: Allowing driving only during daytime hours, prohibiting nighttime driving.
  • Area restrictions: Allowing driving only in familiar areas or near the driver's residence.
  • Speed restrictions: Requiring driving at speeds lower than general speed limits.
  • Passenger requirements: Allowing driving only when accompanied by family or designated caregivers.
  • Vehicle modifications: Requiring installation of safety devices like automatic braking systems and rear cameras.

• Regular tests and evaluations are required. Main management methods include:

  • Conducting cognitive ability tests every 3-6 months to regularly re-evaluate driving fitness.
  • Continuously monitoring health condition changes through medical certificates from doctors.
  • Operating third-party evaluation systems through reports from family or medical staff.
  • Strengthening conditions or canceling licenses if driving ability deteriorates further.

📕 Background and Need for Introduction

• Traffic safety problems in an aging society are becoming serious. Main current situation:

  • Elderly drivers aged 65 and over numbered about 4.3 million in 2023, accounting for 12.8% of all drivers.
  • Traffic accidents by elderly drivers totaled about 28,000 cases in 2022, accounting for 13.1% of all traffic accidents.
  • Particularly, rush accidents and wrong-way driving by drivers with dementia and cognitive disorders have become social problems.
  • Currently there are no intermediate steps other than license cancellation, creating an "all or nothing" limitation.

• There is a dilemma between ensuring mobility rights and securing traffic safety. Main issues include:

  • In rural areas or areas with insufficient public transportation, driving is directly connected to survival.
  • Sudden license cancellation can cause social isolation and depression among elderly people.
  • Family burden increases, sometimes causing conflicts between generations.
  • A gradual approach of reducing driving scope step by step is needed before complete license cancellation.

Main Issues in Introducing Conditional Driver's License

1. Effectiveness problems: Real monitoring and punishment when conditions are violated may be difficult
2. Fairness concerns: Potential discrimination based on age or illness and human rights violation concerns
3. Setting standards: Need to establish objective criteria for conditional license recipients and condition content
4. Social costs: Increased administrative costs from operating regular testing and management systems
5. Family conflicts: Possible family conflicts during driving ability evaluation and reporting processes

3️⃣ Domestic and International Cases and Introduction Plans

✅ Conditional Driver's License Systems in Major Foreign Countries

• Advanced countries already operate various forms of conditional licenses. Main examples include:

  • United States: Most states issue medical conditional licenses, giving conditions based on vision, hearing, cognitive ability, etc.
  • Canada: Ontario operates a gradual licensing system that applies restrictions to elderly people step by step.
  • Australia: Victoria gives conditions like daytime driving and area restrictions through conditional licenses.
  • Japan: Issues conditional licenses based on cognitive function test results and requires regular re-testing.

• There are lessons to be learned from each country's experience. Main lessons include:

  • Clear, objective evaluation standards and professional medical judgment are key to system success.
  • Immediate response systems and technical monitoring devices are needed when conditions are violated.
  • Alternative transportation methods like public transportation expansion must be provided together.
  • Social consensus and continuous education for awareness improvement are important.

✅ Domestic Introduction Plans and Implementation Process

• Government and related agencies are reviewing specific introduction plans. Main implementation status:

  • The National Police Agency is considering introducing a conditional license system in response to increasing accidents by drivers with dementia and other conditions.
  • A Seoul National University research team proposed developing a driving fitness evaluation system and introducing a third-party reporting system.
  • The Korea Road Traffic Authority is expanding driving ability self-diagnosis tools and education programs for elderly people.
  • The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is seeking elderly mobility support plans connected with autonomous vehicles.

• Gradual introduction and pilot operations are planned. Main implementation plans include:

  • Phase 1 will start with a voluntary conditional license application system based on medical diagnosis.
  • Phase 2 will introduce conditional licenses connected with mandatory cognitive ability tests for elderly people above a certain age.
  • After identifying system effectiveness and problems through pilot area selection, plans call for nationwide expansion.
  • Legal basis will be secured through related law amendments and implementation regulations.

4️⃣ Related Term Explanations

🔎 Driving Fitness Evaluation

• Driving fitness evaluation is a system that comprehensively evaluates physical and mental abilities for safe driving.
• Driving fitness evaluation refers to the process of comprehensively evaluating the physical, mental, and cognitive abilities that drivers need to drive safely. It measures various abilities needed for driving such as vision, hearing, reflexes, cognitive ability, and judgment through medical and psychological methods.
• Evaluation items include: First, visual ability evaluation that tests vision, visual field, color vision, and night vision. Second, hearing ability evaluation that checks the ability to hear horns and sirens. Third, motor ability evaluation that measures reflexes, muscle strength, and hand-foot coordination. Fourth, cognitive ability evaluation that tests memory, attention, judgment, and problem-solving abilities.
• Recently, virtual reality (VR) technology is being introduced for actual driving situation simulation evaluation. Based on evaluation results, general licenses, conditional licenses, or license cancellation are decided, and driving ability changes are continuously monitored through regular re-evaluations.

🔎 Cognitive Ability Test

• Cognitive ability tests evaluate brain functions like memory, attention, and judgment needed for driving.
• Cognitive ability tests refer to systematic evaluation of brain functions needed for driving such as memory, attention, concentration, judgment, and information processing ability. They play an important role in early detection of driving ability decline due to dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
• Main test items include: First, memory tests that evaluate short-term and long-term memory abilities. Second, attention tests that measure the ability to concentrate on one task and process multiple tasks simultaneously. Third, information processing speed tests that check the ability to quickly understand situations and react. Fourth, spatial cognition tests that evaluate the ability to accurately perceive distance and direction.
• In Korea, elderly people aged 75 and over must take cognitive ability tests when renewing their licenses, and those scoring below a certain level must receive medical diagnosis. If the conditional driver's license system is introduced, these test results are expected to become important criteria for setting conditions.

🔎 Third-Party Reporting System

• The third-party reporting system allows family or medical staff to report driving risks.
• The third-party reporting system refers to a system where people other than the driver themselves - family, medical staff, and surrounding people - can report to related agencies when they judge that the driver has driving ability problems. This is needed because drivers often do not acknowledge their own ability decline, requiring objective third-party observation and reporting.
• Reporting targets include: First, family members including spouses, children, and siblings. Second, medical staff including primary doctors, specialists, and nurses. Third, care service providers like social workers and caregivers. Fourth, when necessary, traffic accident witnesses or neighbors can also report.
• When reporting, specific examples of driving ability decline and medical evidence must be presented, and regulations against false reporting must also be prepared. Reported drivers receive detailed driving fitness evaluations, and measures like conditional licenses or license cancellation are taken based on results. However, issues like family conflicts and personal information protection must also be considered.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: If I receive a conditional driver's license, can I convert back to a general license?

A: Yes, conditional driver's licenses are not fixed and can be adjusted according to changes in the driver's condition. If ability improvement is determined through regular cognitive ability tests and driving fitness evaluations, it is possible to ease conditions or convert to a general license. For example, if the ability decline was due to temporary illness or medication, normal driving ability can be recovered after treatment. Conversely, if the condition worsens further, conditions can be made stricter or the license can ultimately be cancelled. The important thing is accurately understanding current driving ability through regular re-evaluations. Therefore, even if you receive a conditional license, don't give up and continue efforts for ability recovery through steady health management and driving practice.

Q: What punishment do I receive if I violate conditional driver's license conditions?

A: If you violate conditional driver's license conditions, you receive more severe punishment than general traffic law violations. First, administrative measures can include immediate license suspension or cancellation upon condition violation. Criminal punishment can include fines or detention equivalent to unlicensed driving, with aggravated punishment if accidents occur. Also, insurance processing can be disadvantageous, with possible restrictions or rejection of insurance payments in case of accidents. For example, if you violate nighttime driving prohibition conditions and drive at night causing an accident, you are punished for the condition violation itself and accident responsibility is also aggravated. Therefore, if you receive a conditional license, you must follow the conditions, and in unavoidable situations, it is safer to use alternative transportation like public transit or taxis.