An international investigation of driver's licenses for dementia patients with considerations of their social circumstances

In recent years, the trend toward the nuclear family and the phenomenon of under-population in rural areas has increased the number of aging people who live alone. Therefore, aging people are more likely to drive themselves to go shopping or to a hospital. However, the elderly person also has a tendency to display reduced abilities of cognition and judgment and, in severe cases, displays dementia. The brief results of an international investigation of traffic accidents among aging people based on databases published by public institutions are discussed in this chapter. The aging rate and the number of dementia patients increase with the average life expectancy when it is over 70 years. Currently, the number of traffic accidents among aging people is increasing. Policies preventing the renewal of driver's licenses for aging people are implemented in several countries. However, communication with family and neighbors is effective in preventing aging people from being involved in traffic accidents while walking.