Forcing elderly drivers to do mandatory brain tests slashes car crash rates by one in ten - Daily Mail

Cognitive tests for drivers over 75 years old in Japan have led to a fall in car crashes, data shows (stock image)

Elderly adults in the US and UK account for a slightly higher proportion of accidents than others by age group, campaigners say.

In the US, laws vary widely by state — but most require senior drivers to take a vision test when getting their licenses renewed.

In the latest study, scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Maryland analyzed 602,885 police reports of collisions among drivers over 70 years old.

Led by Dr Haruhiko Inada, a post-doctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, they said: 'Since around 2017, the number of older drivers who voluntarily surrendered their licenses has sharply increased for unclear reasons, especially in the oldest age groups, which might have contributed to crash reduction.

'We should also provide older people with necessary care to prepare for driving cessation and safe, alternative transport means.'