TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will implement more rigorous, science-based methods to evaluate driving capabilities, Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) announced on Wednesday (May 21). The policy shift comes as government data shows a gradual rise in accidents involving senior drivers over the past ten years. Chen presented the initiative during his testimony before the Transportation Committee of the Legislative Yuan (立法院交通委員會), Taiwan's parliament, highlighting demographic urgency as the island nation confronts its rapidly aging population.
The proposed reforms will adapt successful Japanese policies by reducing the mandatory license renewal age threshold from 75 to 70 years, according to Minister Chen. He emphasized that the government would prioritize support programs for older motorists, particularly addressing age-related declines in reaction time. Transportation officials are developing financial incentive programs that would subsidize public transit use for seniors who voluntarily relinquish their driving privileges.
Chen emphasized that the comprehensive licensing overhaul extends beyond elderly drivers to address multiple demographic groups, including inexperienced young motorists, high-risk drivers, and improved remedial training protocols. Data from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部), Taiwan's national transportation authority, reveals a year-over-year increase in senior-involved accidents since implementing specialized renewal requirements for older drivers. Future assessment methods will evaluate crucial skills like hazard perception and cognitive functioning, officials said.
The sweeping license reforms represent a fundamental recalibration of Taiwan's road safety framework, transportation experts note. Officials face the delicate challenge of accommodating mobility needs in an increasingly elderly society while simultaneously addressing mounting safety concerns. The transportation ministry has established monitoring protocols to evaluate the effectiveness of these policy adjustments as they are implemented across the island in coming months. ◼
