Japan’s National Police Agency plans to overhaul the mandatory driving skills test for drivers aged 75 and older with traffic violations, aiming for a 2027 rollout after data revealed high-risk motorists continue to clear the current exam. According to a report released by an expert panel, the upcoming regulatory revisions will introduce stricter scoring criteria and new maneuvers designed to catch pedal misapplications.
Stricter Skills Test Targets High-Risk Elderly Drivers
The current practical driving test, launched in May 2022, requires elderly motorists who commit any of 16 specific traffic violations—such as speeding or running red lights—within the three years prior to license renewal to pass a behind-the-wheel exam.
However, a follow-up survey tracking 5,270 test-takers and 8,233 control group training participants found that accident rates among drivers who passed the test remained roughly 2.8 times higher than those of drivers of the same age with no violation history. For drivers aged 75 to 79 specifically, the accident rate among test-takers was 4.5 times higher. The findings prompted the National Police Agency to re-examine the exam’s effectiveness.
New Maneuvers and Tougher Scoring Criteria
To address ongoing accidents caused by drivers mistakenly pressing the accelerator instead of the brake, the expert panel recommended adding a “direction change” component. This maneuver forces drivers to back up while steering, stop, and then turn the wheel in the opposite direction to move forward, thoroughly testing precise pedal application and steering control.
Scoring for the 100-point deduction test will also tighten significantly ahead of the 2027 implementation. Under current rules, failing to check traffic on both sides when stopping does not affect the score, but the revision will introduce a 10-point penalty. Furthermore, the penalty for crossing a stop line and protruding into an intersecting road at a stop sign will double from 20 points to 40 points, directly targeting inadequate observation ahead and to the sides.