SCHEME TO TEST ELDERLY DRIVERS CRITICIZED|75歲以上駕駛認知檢測 近七成合格

Since May, for elderly drivers' and other road users' safety, the Directorate General of Highways has held cognitive function tests for drivers over 75 years old. So far, 2,700 people took the test, and nearly 70 percent passed. Although the policy intends well, civil groups believe that the government should not judge driving ability by age. Motor Vehicles Office staff test the examinee's cognitive function. To pass the test, the examinee is required to remember 3 items in 2 minutes. Since May, for elderly drivers' safety, the Directorate General of Highways has held cognitive function tests for drivers over 75 years old. So far, there has been a 68 percent pass rate. ==CHEN TSUNG-KAN MVO Dir. DGH== If you are unable to pass the test, it means that there may be some problems with your cognitive function or memory. It may be dangerous for you to drive if you have such problems. According to the DGH, there are around 590,000 drivers who are over 75 years old in Taiwan. Starting from next year, these drivers are required to receive a physical test and a cognitive function test every 2 years for renewing their driver's licenses. Civil groups criticized the government for overlooking a rural-urban divide. For the elderly living in rural areas, where public transport is insufficient, it will cause great inconvenience if they do not pass the test. ==LIN CHIN-LI, Chairman,Yunlin Elderly Care Association== I agree to judge whether one is able to drive by symptoms he/she has or his/her cognitive function. I do not think age is a proper index to determine this because it is kind of like age discrimination. The DGH emphasized that the cognitive function test is a part of a half-year project. After collecting enough data based on the tests, the DGH will discuss with the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry whether the test content should be adjusted. The enforcement date for the policy will be confirmed after the relevant regulations are amended. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH 監理人員拿出水果、交通號誌等10張圖卡出來，測試者只要在2分鐘內，記下三個就算過關，表示認知能力沒有問題；而為了確保高齡駕駛人的安全，公路總局從今年5月起，在全台各地試辦75歲以上汽機車駕駛人認知機能測試，到八月為止，已有2718人報名參加測驗，其中有1852人通過，合格率達68%。 ==公路總局監理組長 陳聰乾== 如果真的沒辦法通過測驗 應該是說你的一些 認知的功能或是你記憶的功能 可能會有一點問題 你去開車的話 就算你勉強開車的話 可能會有一些安全的問題 公路總局表示，目前全台75歲以上、汽機車高齡駕駛人共有58萬6455人，最快從明年起，每兩年必須接受體格檢查及認知機能檢測，才能領取駕照，不過老人團體批評，這項新政策立意很好，但卻忽略城鄉差距，因為鄉下老人幾乎都靠機車代步，政府不該用年齡來限制考照資格。 ==雲林縣老人福利保護協會執行長 林金立== 我同意用症狀 或是認知功能不足 或是症狀 他現在不適宜開車 並不適宜直接用年齡 來做篩檢的指標 因為這樣有一點 感覺起來有一點 年齡歧視的感覺 公路總局強調，這項試辦計畫為期半年，等收集相關數據後、將進一步跟台灣精神醫學會討論，看看是否調整檢測項目，年底前會完成相關程序，至於正式上路時間，還要等修改道安規則後才能確定。 記者 賴淑敏 邱福財 台北報導