Feasible to let elderly drive if fit
The age restriction on applications for driving licenses has been abolished, the Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday.
The age limit was 60 in 1996, and extended to 70 in 2003. As before, the adjustment this time is in line with the pace of society’s aging.
By the end of last year, the number of people aged 60 and above was 254 million, accounting for 18.1 percent of the national population. The figure is projected to rise to more than 300 million by 2025, and 400 million by 2035.
And people’s life expectancy has increased over the past decades thanks to the improvement in living standards and medical care conditions.
Nevertheless, the physical examination for applicants for a driving license in many parts of the country is not as strict as it should be. As long as the applicants pay dozens of yuan, they can in most cases smoothly pass the required physical examination.
If such laxity is not eliminated, a one- size- fits all approach may be hazardous.
As the practices in some developed countries regarding senior citizens’ applying for driving licenses, there should be a special test for them to prove they are still fit for driving.
As long as the applicants’ physical and mental conditions meet relevant standards, they should not be prohibited from driving because of their age.
So canceling the age limit is a welcome move, as tens of millions of people will benefit from it, but the physical examination must be more strictly conducted.