In Japan, traffic accident caused by elder drivers is focused.
Japan is already an aged nation. Elder people are dominant in Japan society. On the other hand, the more getting older, the more our cognitive ability becomes worse. It is an inevitable nature.
Therefore, Japan government began to monitor elder driver's ability more strictly than the past. Elder people have to take a cognitive screening when renewing the driving licence. Persons failed to the test have to meet a doctor to prove they have still capacity of driving.
However, it is not easy to judge if a person can drive a car safely. Rather, we psychiatrists have not been trained to evaluate one's driving technique. It is a task of trainers in driving school.
Nonetheless, Japan government established a new scheme to demand psychiatrists to judge if a person, both elderly and mentally disordered, can drive the car. This policy does not make sense.
Recently, I heard some patients with mental disorder were requested repeatedly to submit a doctor's certification while renewal of the driving licence. It looks like a discrimination against disabled people.
In my opinion, giving a driving licence is an issue of the driving center. And if they cause a traffic accident, they should be responsible for the damage regardless of their mental status unless there are some exceptional reasons, since anyone must manage their state for safety driving once take a wheel.
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