The DGT advises older drivers to take a technical heart test every two years

2024-07-08 15:09:17

In Spain, it is estimated that 15.5% of the 27 million drivers (about 4.1 million) are over 65 years old. This part of the population increased by 26.5% between 2001 and 2018 and, according to data from the General Council of Traffic, almost a third of fatal road accidents involve drivers over that age.

Yesterday’s accident in Vigo, in which a 95-year-old man overturned when he tried to park in a restaurant and ran over 12 people, has also brought a debate on the wisdom of the elderly to come back. the accident

The fact is that, in terms of accidents, those over 65 have much lower rates than other age groups: half of those between 35 and 44 years, and four times less those under 25 years of age.

According to Alvaro Gómez, director of the National Road Safety Observatory of the General Directorate of Traffic, «in relation to the census, the difference between drivers over 65 years old is more in incapacity than in the risk of involvement in an accident». .

Currently, in Spain there is no age limit to be able to drive. The decision whether an adult can drive or not falls on the experts necessary for the renewal of driver’s licenses.

Until the age of 65, driver’s license renewals are every 10 years. This period is reduced to 5 years for drivers over that age and becomes two years when they are over 70. Of course, often is at the discretion of scientists to reduce this period, which can be annual. And in the case of professional drivers, the renewal of the driver’s license is every 5 years in all cases and every 3 years from the age of 65.

For its part, the current Law on Traffic, Car Transport and Road Safety, in its article 13, reaffirms and tells us that: “the driver must be able to control his vehicle at all times” but not O say something about the potential head to be able to drive. There are minimum age limits for different types of driving licenses as well as the age at which the authorizations must be renewed to continue driving.

Since the last renewal of the regulations, the DGT confirmed that people over 70 will see the frequency with which they must renew this permit every 2 years with the aim of “ensuring that the ability to drive remain intact.”

Finally, and according to the Teacher Health Barometer, the months of July, October and September are particularly significant for high train accidents, with Fridays being the days where accidents accumulate the most.