[Serious] Should elderly people be forced to take tests regarding their motor vehicle operating abilities and mental fitness and get their motor vehicle license(s) revoked if they fail the test(s)? Why/why not?

In Japan, your driver's license is valid for 3 years the first time you get one, and after that you have to renew it every 5 years (except if you have too many or too heavy traffic offences, then it goes back to 3 years).

Once you are 70 years old, you have to put this mark on your car so people know you're an elderly person.

Your license will be valid up to 5 years when you are up to 70 years of age, for 4 years if you renew it when you are 71 years, and after that you have to renew it every 3 years.

Another thing is that you also have to take various tests once you are above 75 years. This includes of course an eye exam, hearing exam, as well as testing your cognitive functions. I believe there is also a driving exam, but I don't know if it's mandatory to do it every 3 years or only once when you are 75.

Of course, if you fail the test, your license is revoked.

The real reason why they do that -and why tests are becoming increasingly difficult- is that the Japanese Government wants elderly to just give up their driver's license in order to have less chance to have accidents.

I believe this is a good thing, because when I drive here I see many elderly drive poorly, not looking left or right sometimes, forget or just don't want to use their turning indicator. I even almost got run over by an elderly woman once who just turned without looking at the crosswalk (it was green for me).

/r/AskReddit Thread