Taiwan’s Vehicle-Safety Policy and Reform of Licensing for Older Drivers: Future Directions after the Sanxia Crash

The Sanxia Crash: A Call for Urgent Action on 19 May 2025, a tragic road accident shook the community outside Beida Elementary School in Sanxia District, New Taipei City. A 78-year-old driver surnamed Yu, in a devastating turn of events, plowed his car into scooters and pedestrians, claiming the lives of three and injuring twelve. Yu himself succumbed to his injuries, raising the toll to four dead and twelve wounded. This heart-wrenching incident has highlighted the pressing need for a reevaluation of Taiwan’s licensing regime for elderly drivers. Despite holding a valid license, registering a zero alcohol reading, and driving a seemingly faultless car, the actual cause of the accident—be it illness, deliberate action, or mechanical failure—remains shrouded in uncertainty.

 

In response, the New Taipei City Government convened an emergency inspection. Within a week, it installed new “school-zone” speed-reduction signs and optical speed bars at the junction and drew up plans for a pedestrian-priority zone with raised rumble strips and guard rails to protect children. The school and police have stationed extra staff at peak hours. The crash also showed that the current licensing rules for older people are inadequate. Drivers over 75 must renew every three years, pass medical checks of eyesight, hearing, and limb function, and take a cognitive test, yet Yu has met all these requirements. Investigators also found that existing vehicle inspection and crash forensics procedures were unable to determine the cause quickly. While Yu lay in the hospital, he could not be questioned, so the origins of the crash remain unclear.

 

• The current system and planned reforms

Currently, Taiwanese drivers aged 65 to 74 renew their licenses every six years. Those over 75 renew their licenses every three years and are required to undergo a physical examination and a cognitive test. If they have traffic violations or crashes on record, they must take additional on-road training. After the Sanxia crash, the Ministry of Transport announced that the age for more frequent renewals would be lowered from 75 to 70 and that a tiered testing regime would be introduced: drivers aged 70 to 75 and those over 75 would face different standards, and anyone with violations will have to pass an extra road test. Parliament and civic groups have proposed following Japan’s example by adding on-road examinations, driving simulators, or other tests. For those who voluntarily surrender their licenses, the ministry has launched a TPASS subsidy, which provides travel vouchers for public transportation. To ease mobility problems in rural areas, some have called for more publicly subsidized “mini-yellow-cab” services.

 

The ministry assures that it is conducting a comprehensive review of practices in Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Australia. Within three months, it plans to draft detailed rules for parliamentary review and consideration. These rules will encompass a range of measures, including shorter renewal intervals, new road tests, and more rigorous training, all designed to assess the abilities of older drivers scientifically. This thorough approach aims to provide a robust framework for the future of road safety in Taiwan.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have united in their call for the compulsory installation of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles used by elderly drivers, with government subsidies. The ministry has pledged to study these subsidies and is closely monitoring EU safety regulations. This collaborative effort, involving both government and civic groups, is a testament to Taiwan’s commitment to strengthening safeguards for older drivers.

 

• International comparisons

Japan applies a graduated system. Drivers aged 70–74 must attend a senior driver course and pass a medical examination; the renewal interval is three to five years. Those over 75 renew every three years and must pass a cognitive test. Any sign of dementia triggers a medical examination and, if confirmed, license cancellation. Drivers over 75 with serious violations in the past three years must pass an on-road test. Since 2022, all over 75 renewals have included a road test score out of 100, with 70 as the pass mark (80 for commercial drivers). Japan also offers a “support-car-limited” license that allows seniors to drive only vehicles fitted with AEB and similar features and encourages license surrender through bank discounts and shop coupons.

The European Union leads in the adoption of mandatory vehicle technologies. Under the General Safety Regulation (2019/2144), all new vehicles must be fitted with ISA, AEB, driver-drowsiness alerts, and emergency lane-keeping from 2024. ISA became compulsory for new models in 2022 and for all new registrations from July 2024; it warns or assists drivers to slow down and is expected to reduce speed-related crashes significantly. Research suggests ISA and AEB can greatly reduce deaths among pedestrians and cyclists. Canada plans to mandate some advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) from 2025. Japan’s tiered licensing and Europe’s technology mandates provide models that Taiwan can adapt.

 

• Safety technology for older drivers

Active and passive safety systems offer clear benefits for older individuals, who are particularly vulnerable to the risks associated with speeding, fatigue, and distraction. ISA helps seniors with poor speed judgment; AEB significantly reduces the severity of impact; and attention-monitoring alerts warn drowsy or distracted drivers. Scientific studies support their life-saving potential. Yet many older people drive older cars without such systems, and retrofitting is costly. Some seniors distrust new technologies, so the government must educate the public and show that drivers can override systems at any time. Policies should combine subsidies—helping seniors buy safer cars or retrofit their equipment—with gradual mandates, striking a balance between cost and acceptance.

 

• Systemic gaps revealed by the crash

The Sanxia crash highlighted multiple weaknesses. Licensing checks focus on vision and cognition, but not chronic illnesses; Yu had a heart condition that may have caused him to black out. Future renewals include wider medical screening or physician certification. Vehicle inspections could be tightened for older drivers’ cars, such as shorter intervals or age limits on vehicles, to reduce mechanical failures. Crash investigation requires better data: authorities may need event recorders or black boxes to aid in reconstruction.

Local traffic management also needs improvement. Before the crash, the street outside the school was signed at 30 km/h under “school zone” rules, yet another sign showed 50 km/h—confusing and unsafe. Municipalities should enforce the 30 km/h speed limit around schools and regularly inspect and maintain signs and markings.

 

• Taiwan’s policy should blend technology, regulation, industry support, and public acceptance:

1. Graduated renewal. Following Japan, set renewal every three years for 70–74-year-olds with classroom refreshers and every two or three years with road tests for those over 75. Repeat offenders should undergo intensive retraining.
2. Equipment requirements. Consider mandating AEB, lane-keeping, and forward-collision warnings on new cars or vehicles driven by seniors. Offer subsidies for scrapping old cars or adding safety kits, and gradually introduce ISA in new vehicles and public transport.
3. Public-transport alternatives. Expand TPASS subsidies and rural “happy bus” or mini-cab services, plus community shuttles, to reduce reliance on private cars.
4. Safer streets. Complete school-zone upgrades: raised crossings, guard rails, pedestrian zones, and clear, uniform speed signs. Redesign junctions with wider pavements and dedicated pedestrian signals, and audit campus areas regularly.
5. Industry and education. Collaborate with carmakers and tech firms to develop senior-friendly interfaces and ADAS packages, thereby reducing costs. Educate drivers that these systems assist rather than replace them and avoid stigmatizing older motorists.

Taiwan must move beyond isolated tests or campaigns. By integrating technology, regulation, and social support, and learning from Japan and Europe while tailoring solutions to local needs, it can protect both seniors’ mobility and public safety. Collaboration across government, industry, and communities is essential to prevent another tragedy like the Sanxia crash and to achieve a truly people-centered road safety vision.