Effects of a license renewal policy on collision and case fatality rates among older drivers in Taiwan: A controlled interrupted time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND

On July 1, 2017, Taiwan introduced a mandatory license renewal policy for older drivers, which was gradually implemented among drivers aged ≥ 75 years. However, the benefits of this regulation remain uncertain. This study examined the effects of the license renewal policy on collision and case fatality rates among older drivers.

METHODS

We conducted a controlled interrupted time-series analysis using monthly national police-reported motor vehicle collision data from January 2013 to December 2021. Drivers aged ≥75 years comprised the age group subject to the policy, and drivers aged 65-74 years served as the comparison group. Collision rates were modeled using negative binomial regression with age-group-specific population as the offset. Case fatality rates were modeled using Poisson regression with monthly collision counts as the offset. Estimates were expressed as rate ratios and ratios of rate ratios (RRRs).

RESULTS

The immediate post-policy level change in collision rates among drivers aged ≥75 years did not differ significantly from that among drivers aged 65-74 years (RRR, 1.061; 95% CI, 0.992-1.134). However, the post-policy monthly trend was significantly greater among drivers aged ≥75 years than among drivers aged 65-74 years (RRR, 1.004; 95% CI, 1.001-1.007). For case fatality rates, neither the immediate level change nor the post-policy monthly trend differed significantly between groups.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of the license renewal policy was not associated with clear evidence of a population-level road safety benefit among drivers aged ≥75 years.