Aging Behind the Wheel: Korea Struggles to Address Elderly Driving Risks (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, June 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Elderly drivers were responsible for over one in five traffic accidents in South Korea last year, a record high that has reignited debate over delayed safety reforms ahead of the first anniversary of a deadly wrong-way driving incident in central Seoul.
According to new data from the Korea Road Traffic Authority, drivers aged 65 and older accounted for 21.6% of all traffic accidents in 2024, up from 14.8% in 2020. While total road accidents nationwide decreased during that period, crashes involving older drivers surged 36.4% to 42,369 cases, the highest since records began in 2005.
Experts attribute the spike to age-related physical decline, including diminished reaction times and narrowed visual fields. One study by the Korea Consumer Agency found that elderly drivers take nearly double the time of younger counterparts to brake when a child darts into view—2.28 seconds versus 1.20 seconds.
Such delays have contributed to a series of high-profile crashes, including the 2024 Seoul City Hall wrong-way accident, which killed nine. Investigators suspect the cause was pedal misapplication—pressing the accelerator instead of the brake—a scenario increasingly linked to older drivers.
A separate analysis by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance found that 25.7% of pedal error accidents from 2019 to 2024 involved seniors.
Elderly Driver Crashes Surge, But Korean Safety Reforms Lag (Image supported by ChatGPT)
Despite mounting concerns, policy responses remain sluggish. Proposed solutions such as conditional licenses—restricting elderly drivers from nighttime or highway driving—are still under review.
Voluntary license return programs, supported by small incentives from local governments, have seen poor uptake; Seoul’s return rate stands at just 3%, with many older adults citing a lack of public transport options or dependence on driving for income.
Efforts to introduce pedal misapplication prevention systems have also lagged. Only this August—over a year after the City Hall crash—will authorities begin a pilot program to equip 800 elderly drivers’ vehicles with these systems, which use sensors and cameras to suppress unintended acceleration.
In contrast, Japan has moved more swiftly, mandating that all passenger cars sold from September 2028 must include such systems. Already, over 90% of Japan-made vehicles include the feature.
With South Korea’s aging population mirroring Japan’s trajectory, experts warn that time is running out to act. The proportion of license holders over 65 rose from 7.6% in 2015 to 14.9% in 2024, and is projected to reach 31.1% by 2050, according to the National Assembly Budget Office.
“We are entering a super-aged society where elderly driver accidents will only rise,” said Kim Pil-soo, a professor of future automotive studies at Daelim University. “To mitigate risk, Korea needs to accelerate a comprehensive approach—combining conditional licensing, safety technologies, and structural support.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
