“If just 10% of older drivers return their licenses, accident costs will be reduced by 3.3 billion won.”

As concerns grow about the possibility of elderly drivers causing traffic accidents, research results have shown that voluntarily surrendering senior drivers' licenses can have significant economic and environmental benefits.

According to a paper by Jeong-beom Lee (Daejeon Research Institute), Sang-woo Kim (Daejeon Research Institute), and Seon-gyu Yang (Daejeon City Hall) on the 9th titled 'Characteristics of elderly drivers' perception of license return and expected environmental and economic effects, focusing on the case of Daejeon City,' the research team looked at the expected effects of returning licenses using Daejeon City statistical data and the benefit calculation methodology of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's transportation facility investment evaluation guidelines.

First, as a result of quantifying and analyzing greenhouse gas reduction (environmental benefits), it was estimated that among the 169,854 elderly driver's license holders in Daejeon (as of 2023), if the license return rate is assumed to be 10% (16,985 people), greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be reduced by 9,680.5 tons (ton) per year.

It was found that if the return rate increases to 20% (33,970 people), the amount can be reduced by 19,361 tons, and if the return rate is 30% (50,955 people), it can be reduced to 29,041.5 tons.

The prediction of accident cost reduction (economic benefit) due to reduction in traffic accidents is also notable.

Researchers analyzed that if about 10% (16,985 people) of the total 169,854 elderly drivers in Daejeon returned their licenses, 137.4 traffic accidents involving elderly drivers could be reduced.

It was further explained that by accident type, it has the effect of reducing the number of deaths by 1.4, 30.1 in serious injuries, and 191.3 in injuries.

By applying the average accident value for elderly drivers provided by the Insurance Development Institute and the Road Traffic Authority's cost standards for each accident type, the researchers calculated that about 3.3 billion won in accident loss costs, including 747.3 million won for death, 2.07389 million won for serious injury, and 512.68 million won for injury, could be saved.

The researchers also introduced that as a result of a survey of 198 drivers (106 men, 92 women) living in Daejeon City over the age of 60, the majority (44%) responded that 75 to 79 years of age should be considered the 'age standard for elderly drivers.'

The proportion of respondents who said, ‘I feel physical difficulties when driving’ tended to gradually increase with age, starting after the age of 60. It was found that the rate of perceived ‘driving difficulties’ rapidly increases after the age of 75.

The researchers explained, "This suggests that there is a gap between the age standards perceived by older drivers and the actual point of decline in physical function. As the age of older drivers increases, the psychological acceptability of discussing license surrender may also increase."

The paper was published in the academic journal ‘Regional Policy Research’ published by the Chungbuk Research Institute.

According to the Road Traffic Authority's traffic accident analysis system, traffic accidents caused by drivers aged 65 or older increased by 36.4% from 31,072 in 2020 to 42,369 in 2024. In all traffic accidents, the proportion of drivers over the age of 65 reached an all-time high of 21.6% in 2024.

Each local government is making efforts to reduce accidents involving elderly drivers by promoting a policy of voluntarily returning driver's licenses for elderly drivers, but the nationwide participation rate in voluntarily returning driver's licenses among drivers aged 70 or older remains at around 2%.