Japan to Review Elderly Driver Test After Finding Higher Accident Rates Among Drivers with Prior Violations

The National Police Agency announced on June 25, 2026, that it will begin reviewing the mandatory driving skills test for drivers age 75 or older who have a history of traffic violations. The decision follows a study released the same day that found participants in the test had accident rates 2.8 times higher than drivers who attended standard elderly training courses.

The test was introduced in 2022 and applies to drivers age 75 or older who committed any of 16 designated violations in the three years before license renewal.

Drivers must pass the practical test to renew their licenses. About 10 percent of renewing drivers are subject to the test. In 2025, 156,513 people took the test and 93 percent passed. The NPA tracked 5,270 people who passed the test between May and August 2023 and 8,233 people who attended the elderly driver training course for those with no violations.

Over the following two years, the study recorded 83 accidents among test takers and 47 among training course participants. On a per-100,000-driver basis, the accident rate for test takers was 2.8 times higher overall and 4.8 times higher for those aged 75 to 79. The traffic violation rate among test takers was about twice as high.

The most common cause of accidents was inadequate observation ahead and to the sides. The NPA cited concerns that the test may not be functioning effectively and will establish an expert panel to discuss reforms. The panel is expected to consider stricter scoring criteria, new assessment items, and measures to address accidents caused by mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake.