The deputy director of Education and Road Training of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), María José Aparicio, has confirmed that the body headed by Pere Navarro it will reduce the validity periods of the driving license of the elderly.
Aparicio has indicated this during his participation in a day of debate on the obstacles that limit the mobility of the elderly and their needs, held within the framework of the Vial Week (Road Safety Week) and organized by the Foundation of the National Confederation of Driving Schools (CNAE) at the headquarters of CEAPAT Imserso.
“The 30% of those killed in traffic accidents in the European Union are over 65 years old. A fact that is repeated in all countries and that reaches 50% when we talk about the deaths of pedestrians or cyclists. In Spain in 2019, 28% of those killed in a traffic accident were over 65 years of age. These figures are going to worsen, if we do nothing, due to the aging of the population “, the deputy director of the DGT has warned.
In relation to the loss of psychophysical skills and the review of the validity of the permits, the Deputy Director of Traffic has clarified that DGT wants to review not only the periods of validity of the permits of the elderly but also all validity periods. “We know that in the case of people of a certain age we will have to reduce them,” said María José Aparicio, who has argued that it is necessary to “protect the elderly, but always promoting their mobility, safety and freedom.”
For his part, the director of Fesvial projects, José Ignacio Lijarcio, has referred to the ‘Savima Study’, on the road health of older drivers. “There must be a promotion of the mobility of the elderly, since We are not talking about a question of age but of health“, he declared.” The image of our elders has changed. Life expectancy has increased and those over 65 move differently. In addition, they are not technological natives, but we have to address them, that is why social and generational learning is important. We have to accompany them in that transition, because they have to continue learning, “he said.
Lijarcio has explained that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that the world population of 60 years will reach 2,000 million in 2050 and that the European Union estimates that in the year 2040, 27% of the European population will be over 65 years old.
From CNAE, its president, Enrique Lorca, has commented that “after the pandemic, people of a certain age who had a permit and had not driven for a long time, have wanted to return to driving school before getting behind the wheel and recycling.” “We like to improve your mobility. We are turning years and we can lose skills, abilities, knowledge, that is why at CNAE we are in favor that, from time to time and coinciding with the renewal of the driving license, there could be some kind of update, which would serve to help people who have lost knowledge, “he said.
Loss of powers
In his speech, the Secretary General of the Spanish Association of Psychotenic Medical Centers (ASECEMP), Bonifacio Martín, said that “age is a factor that notably influences the loss of faculties; the older, the more denials and restrictive conditions” . He has also pointed out that “sight is the most important organ in providing information on driving and it is also the one that contributes the greatest number of denials and restrictive conditions “.
Martín has commented that “the controversy as to whether or not there should be an age limit for driving is frequent.” “What there must be are some suitable psychophysical conditionsIf they meet you can drive and if not, no, whatever your age. With regard to road safety, the important thing is that they are complied with and that the recognition center does its job well and checks that the driver has those required conditions, “he argued.
He has pointed out that in all the forums in which they have participated they have demanded the return to the validity periods of 2009. “Without success so far, although the Director General of Traffic has spoken about the issue a few days ago. It will be a slow process but if you don’t start, you can’t reach it “, he has settled.
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Currently, the driving license (class B) is renewed every 10 years until the age of 65, at which point it begins to expire every 5 years. Before 2009, the validity was 10 years up to 45 years. Afterwards, the renewal was every five years until the 70’s and, from there, every two years.
The Director General of Traffic, Pere Navarro, in his recent appearance before the Congressional Road Safety Commission, announced that the deadlines and psychophysical tests will be reviewed in the renewal of the driving license of the elderly. According to data from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), more than four million people over 65 years of age maintain their driving license, which represents more than 15% of the census of drivers.
Reference-www.elperiodico.com