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2 clusters · 6 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

Greek elderly driver safety and licensing scrutiny

Overview

In Greece, debates have resurfaced regarding the safety of elderly drivers and the adequacy of medical assessments required for license renewals. While no maximum age limit exists, regulations mandate renewals every three years after age 65 and every two years after age 80, involving various medical examinations.

Concerns have been raised following a viral video of an elderly driver traveling the wrong way on the Athens-Corinth National Road. This incident has led to allegations that some driving schools facilitate illegal renewals through bribery, with reported costs between 300 and 500 euros to bypass mandatory medical evaluations. These evaluations are intended to ensure drivers possess necessary vision, hearing, and reflexes through ophthalmological, pathological, neurological, and otorhinolaryngological examinations.

Concurrently, the European Union is considering measures to increase the frequency of medical checks and shorten license validity periods for drivers over 65 to address road safety risks associated with age-related declines in physical and cognitive abilities.

Entities

European Union · EKAB · Alpha · Greece · DVLA

Timeline

  1. 23 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Greece: Allegations of bribery in elderly driver license renewals

    Allegations have emerged in Greece regarding bribery at driving schools to renew elderly drivers' licenses without mandatory medical examinations, raising significant road safety concerns.

  2. 27 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Greece: Toll exemptions for specific groups and services

    Certain drivers in Greece are exempt from highway tolls, including local residents near specific motorways, unemployed individuals, persons with disabilities, and emergency or state service vehicles.

Sources

aegeanews24.gr · gargalianoionline.gr · newmoney.gr · newsbomb.gr · rpn.gr · tromaktiko.gr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history