Seniors' Driving License: This Could Mean the End of Driving Behind the Wheel

Even open-ended driving licenses will have to be replaced. The new regulations, which have already been written into law, provide for mandatory periodic medical examinations for all drivers, including seniors. For many of them, this could mean the end of their driving adventure. The planned replacement of documents is to take place between 2028 and 2033.

According to the law already in force (Act of 5 January 2011 on vehicle drivers, Journal of Laws 2011 No. 30, item 151), all indefinite driving licenses issued before 19 January 2013 will have to be exchanged for documents with a validity date. As reported by Rzeczpospolita, the process will begin on 19 January 2028 and end on 18 January 2033. For millions of drivers, including a large group of seniors, this will involve undergoing medical examinations. Without a positive ruling, the authorization cannot be extended.

According to the regulations, people exchanging their driving licence will have to show a current medical certificate . Although there is currently no obligation to regularly renew driving licences after the age of 65 (as in some European Union countries), a test when exchanging a document will become mandatory - also for those who previously held a "lifetime" driving licence.

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The occupational physician will assess, among other things, vision, hearing, motor coordination, and any chronic diseases. For some older drivers, this can be a serious barrier.

The new regulations are not aimed against the elderly, but are intended to increase road safety . As we age, our ability to see, hear and concentrate decreases, which negatively affects our reaction time in emergency situations, such as a pedestrian entering the roadway or a vehicle braking suddenly in front. Mandatory tests will make it possible to exclude people who are no longer able to drive safely from road traffic.

According to the Central Register of Drivers, around 15 million Poles currently have driving licenses without an expiry date. A significant part of this group are people over 60 who obtained their licenses in the 20th century. The exchange of documents will therefore be a huge logistical undertaking, planned for five years.

Many seniors are worried about the upcoming exchange of their driving license. However, it is worth remembering that there is no need to act in advance or to remember the deadlines. Each driver will receive an individual notification in due time.

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The fee for replacing the document is on average PLN 100, while the cost of a medical examination is around PLN 200. Although for some seniors this may be a large expense, the long transition period will allow people in a more difficult financial situation to save the necessary funds.