Critical Change in Driving License for Drivers Over 65
A new era begins in the driver’s license system for drivers over the age of 65. Details of the regulation, which is claimed to shorten renewal periods and increase health checks, are in our news.
Allegedly, the driver’s license renewal period, which is currently 10 years, will be significantly shortened for individuals in this age group and connected to a much stricter control mechanism.
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Reduction in Renewal Periods:Drivers over the age of 65 will need to renew their licenses every 3 years, and those over the age of 80 will need to obtain a health report every 2 years.
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Health Check Obligation:The driver’s licenses of people who cannot receive a “driving certificate” from health institutions within the specified periods will be suspended until the necessary conditions are met.
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Age Limit for Commercial Vehicles:Strict controls are also on the way regarding the age limit, which has been temporarily increased to 69 for commercial transportation drivers, and professional qualification certificates.
New Health Periods for Safety in Traffic
According to the new draft regulation that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and relevant institutions are working on, the validity period of driver’s licenses gradually decreases as age increases.
While a standard driver’s license remains valid for 10 years under current laws, with the new regulation, these documents of citizens over the age of 65 will be valid for only 3 years. At the end of this period, drivers will need to undergo a full-fledged health check again and prove that their basic driving skills such as reflexes, vision and hearing are intact.
For older drivers, the controls are moved to a much more sensitive point. It is planned to reduce the driver’s license renewal interval to 2 years for citizens over the age of 80. The main reason for this step is that the health status may change suddenly in older ages and this may pose a potential risk to other participants in traffic.
Rules Become Clarified for Commercial Drivers
Not only individual vehicle users, but also drivers engaged in commercial transportation are affected by this new wave of regulations. With the updates made in the Road Transport Regulation, age and proficiency criteria in commercial vehicle use are being discussed again. As it is known, the upper age limit of 66 was increased to 69 with a temporary decision in order to meet the need for drivers after the pandemic. Whether these borders will be maintained in the new period or whether more specific health criteria will be introduced will become clear with the official statements to be made in the coming days.
Vocational Competence and Psychotechnical Tests
In the new era, not only age but also psychotechnical tests measuring the cognitive and physical abilities of drivers are expected to play a more decisive role. Among the items on the agenda is that drivers over the age of 65 must take these tests in certain cases, in addition to their health report. In this way, it is aimed to detect individuals who have problems such as sudden decision-making ability or distraction in traffic early.
European Standards and Türkiye’s Goals
These changes that Türkiye plans to make in the driver’s license system actually coincide with the European Union’s “Vision Zero” policy. Similar methods applied in many European countries aim to minimize the loss of life in traffic accidents. Experts state that the experience of older drivers is an undeniable advantage, but that biological limitations must be supported by technological and medical controls.
According to information obtained from news sources, if the regulation becomes law, the system will work integrated with the digital infrastructure. The driver’s licenses of drivers whose health certificates have expired or who have not renewed their health certificates will be automatically deactivated through the system and penal action will be applied if these people enter the traffic.
