The National Police Agency of Japan is significantly tightening the practical driving test administered to elderly drivers aged 75 and older with a history of traffic violations.

Following a series of major accidents caused by poor pedal operation, new complex operation tasks such as reversing and parking will be added to the test items, and point deductions for violations or failure to meet standards will also be expanded.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other reports on September 3, an expert review panel under the Japanese National Police Agency has drafted a report on the revision of the practical driving test containing these measures and recommended its implementation sometime next year.

Currently, the practical driving test is conducted using a point-deduction system out of a total of 100 points, and standard license holders must score 70 points or higher to pass.

The test tasks consist of five items: driving at a designated speed, making a complete stop, turning left and right, passing traffic lights, and driving over a curb.

The revision proposal adds a "direction change" task to prevent accidents caused by the malfunction or misuse of accelerator and brake pedals.

Drivers will face a 20-point deduction if they make contact with an obstacle while reversing to park and then moving forward again.

A new item for "failure to ensure safety" (a 10-point deduction)—such as neglecting to secure visibility and check surroundings at intersections—will also be established, while the point deduction for "failing to make a complete stop," which directly leads to serious accidents, will be significantly increased from the current maximum of 20 points to a maximum of 40 points, which results in immediate failure.

Since May 2022, Japan has made practical driving tests mandatory during license renewals for drivers aged 75 and older who have a history of 16 types of violations, including traffic signal violations and speeding, over the past three years.

(Photo: Yonhap News)