In 2024, 739 people in the German state of Thuringia had their licenses revoked due to health problems, the German Interior Ministry said.
Most of those affected were elderly people who no longer met the requirements for safe driving – for example, they had problems with their eyesight, nervous system or other physical functions.
The situation is part of a wider European debate about how long seniors should be allowed to drive. In Germany, rules allow licenses to be revoked temporarily or permanently, depending on the driver’s health.
Drivers of heavy goods vehicles and buses are subject to stricter measures – their licenses are valid for a shorter period and they are subject to regular medical examinations. The idea of applying the same requirements to older car drivers has been discussed for years. However, automotive organizations such as the ADAC are against age limits and support individual assessments instead of universal rules.
The issue of driver fitness is not only relevant in the EU. In Russia, for example, from 2027, at the suggestion of President Putin, automatic withdrawal of a driver’s license in the event of health problems will be introduced. There, the traffic police system is directly linked to the health system and is activated as soon as a diagnosis is made.
Unlike Russia, Germany does not envisage an automatic mechanism. Instead, the decision on whether someone is fit to drive will remain in the hands of doctors.
Illustrative Photo by Jagadish Chandra Mondal: https://www.pexels.com/photo/vintage-yellow-taxi-with-elderly-driver-in-kolkata-32896179/
