shimokawasachiko 目次
AGREE OR DISAGREE: Should people give up their driver’s licences at a certain age?
特定の年齢で運転免許返納を義務化すべきか？
POINTS: Ability Deterioration / Car Accidents / Alternative Transportation / Individual Difference / Advanced Technology
観点：能力の衰退 / 交通事故 / 代替の交通手段 / 個人差 / 最新技術
運転免許返納奨励の背景
高齢者ドライバーが引き起こす交通事故が社会問題になっています。高齢者ならではのアクセルとブレーキの踏み間違いや反対車線走行などが原因となっているからでしょう。また、被害者が小さな子供であるケースも多く、これから高齢化が加速する日本社会において不安に感じるのも無理はありません。
身分証明書代わりに免許書を保持したいと考える高齢者ドライバーが返納しやすいように運転経歴証明書の発行や、また更新の際には講習を義務付けたり、色々な対策が取られてきましたが、高齢者ドライバーによる交通事故は後を立ちません。
2022年5月1日から75歳以上のドライバーで更新時より遡って3年以内に特定の違反がある人は、実技テストに合格しなければ免許更新は出来ないという規則が実施されました。これによる効果は果たしてみられるのか、やはり強制的に例えば75歳になったら免許が失効するようにするのか、ドライバーの権利を守りつつ交通安全を維持するには何が求められるのでしょうか？
また、車社会であるアメリカやオーストラリアなどの海外では高齢者ドライバーの免許更新に条件があるのか調べてみるのも面白いかもしれません。
Japan to start giving some seniors driving tests before license renewal (English)
Driver licensing at 75 and 85 years in NSW (English)
Driver License Renewal Requirements in Florida (English)
賛成派：特定の年齢で運転免許返納を義務化すべきだ (229 語）
AGREE OR DISAGREE： Should people give up their driver’s licences at a certain age?
POINTS: Ability Deterioration / Car Accidents / Alternative Transportation
Introduction
Elderly drivers at a certain age or above should return their driving licences due to their weakened skills, which leads to enhanced road safety. Inconveniences they may encounter by giving up their rights, however, should be compensated somehow.
特定の年齢に達した高齢者ドライバーは、運転技術の衰えのため免許書を返納すべきです。これは、交通安全強化につながります。返納後は不便に感じるでしょうが、これは何らかの方法で解消されるべきです。
Discussion 1
The abilities of physical activities and judgement develop or deteriorate as people grow or age. There is a minimum age at or above which people can legally drive, and then we should introduce an upper limit. That way is more reasonable and fair than the newly introduced regulation that only requires 75-year-olds or above with particular offence records within three years to pass the mandatory driving test.
身体活動能力や判断能力は成長と共に発達し、老化と共に衰退します。法的に運転できる最低年齢があるのだから、上限年齢もあってしかるべきです。その方が、過去3年以内に特定の交通違反がある75歳以上の高齢者ドライバーにのみ実技テストを義務付けるという新しい規則より、理にかなっており公平だと思われます。
Discussion 2
Today, a growing number of car accidents also causes unfortunate death to small children, many of which would have been preventable if elderly drivers had not been behind the wheel. Given that the whole nation is ageing rapidly, the number of car accidents caused by elderly drivers would further increase.
近年、交通事故死する小さな子供が増えています。高齢者が運転していなければ、多くの事故は防げたことでしょう。全国的に高齢化が急速に進んでいる事から、高齢者による交通事故件数は更に増加すると思われます。
Discussion 3
Needless to say, many elderly drivers would not like to get their licences taken away. It would inconvenience them, particularly on rainy days, with heavy things or in areas with less public transportation. Those issues, however, could be solved easily by providing free community buses or proxy driving services.
言うまでもなく、免許書を取り上げられる事を良く思わない高齢者も多くいることでしょう。特に雨の日、重い荷物を持っている時や交通の便が良くない場所でなど、不便を強いられることになるでしょう。しかし、こういった問題は無料のコミュニティーバスや運転代行サービスを提供する事で簡単に解決できます。
Conclusion
Ultimately, we should prioritise road safety over any inconvenience elderly drivers potentially have, and driver’s licences should not be renewed after reaching a certain age.
結局のところ、高齢者ドライバーが被るであろう不便さよりも道路の安全を重視すべきであり、免許書は特定の年齢に達すれば更新されるべきではありません。
賛成派: 全文(音声付き）
Elderly drivers at a certain age or above should return their driving licences due to their weakened skills, which leads to enhanced road safety. Inconveniences they may encounter by giving up their rights, however, should be compensated somehow.
The abilities of physical activities and judgement develop or deteriorate as people grow or age. There is a minimum age at or above which people can legally drive, and then we should introduce an upper limit. That way is more reasonable and fair than the newly introduced regulation that only requires 75-year-olds or above with particular offence records within three years to pass the mandatory driving test.
Today, a growing number of car accidents also causes unfortunate death to small children, many of which would have been preventable if elderly drivers had not been behind the wheel. Given that the whole nation is ageing rapidly, the number of car accidents caused by elderly drivers would further increase.
Needless to say, many elderly drivers would not like to get their licences taken away. It would inconvenience them, particularly on rainy days, with heavy things or in areas with less public transportation. Those issues, however, could be solved easily by providing free community buses or proxy driving services.
Ultimately, we should prioritise road safety over any inconvenience elderly drivers potentially have, and driver’s licences should not be renewed after reaching a certain age.
反対派：特定の年齢で運転免許を返納すべきでない（242 語)
AGREE OR DISAGREE： Should people give up their driver’s licences at a certain age?
POINTS: Individual Difference / Advanced Technology
Introduction
Banning the elderly at a certain age or above from driving may be thoughtless and would not also lower the number of car accidents. The abilities and situations of elderly drivers vary, and they can also drive safely with the help of advanced technology.
特定の年齢以上の高齢者が運転する事を禁止するのは思慮に欠け、交通事故件数を低下させることにもならないでしょう。高齢者ドライバーの能力や境遇は様々であり、また最新技術を持ってすれば、安全に運転することは可能です。
Discussion 1
Private vehicles are like a lifeline for people working in the agricultural or fishery industry, many of whom often continue to work till a much later life stage. Some are still working even in their 80s, and driving is inevitable. No alternative solution is available for them, and no one has the right to take their licences away unless they have health issues.
私用の車は農業や漁業で働く人達にとって、多くは後期老齢期まで働き続けますが、生命線のようなものです。80歳代でも働いている人もいて、運転することは必然なのです。自身で運転する以外に方法はありませんし、健康に問題がない限り誰も彼らから免許書を奪い取る権利はありません。
Discussion 2
Generally speaking, the reaction time and the judgement abilities deteriorate with age. But there is a considerable difference in the deterioration between individuals. Besides, those who are aware of ageing do not do anything reckless. They would not, for instance, drive fast in the dark or rain when their vision is limited. Age is, therefore, not an ideal indicator to measure the skills and abilities of safe driving.
一般的にとっさに反応するまでの時間や判断能力は年齢と共に衰えます。しかし、その衰退には個人差がかなりあります。その上、自分が老化している事を認識している人は、無謀な事はしません。例えば、そういった人達は視力が制限される暗闇や雨の中でスピードを出して運転したりはしないでしょう。ですから、年齢は安全運転のための技術や能力を測るのに適した指標ではありません。
Discussion 3
Finally, licences limited to vehicles with driving safety support systems are now available. One of the features of such vehicles would prevent drivers from accelerating mistakenly. Self-driving cars will also be available in the market soon. Seniors should be allowed to drive automobiles with such advanced technology.
最後に、現在は運転支援システム付きの車限定の免許書も存在します。そういった車の特徴のひとつが、ドライバーが間違えてアクセルを踏むのを防ぐことです。また完全自動運転車もそう遠くない将来、市場に出回る事でしょう。年配の人達はそのような最新技術を駆使した自動車の運転を許されるべきです。
Conclusion
In short, whether senior drivers give up their right to drive should be arbitrary, not mandatory at a certain age.
要するに、高齢者ドライバーが運転する権利を諦めるか否かは任意であるべきで、特定の年齢で強制されるべきものではありません。
反対派: 全文(音声付き）
Banning the elderly at a certain age or above from driving may be thoughtless and would not also lower the number of car accidents. The abilities and situations of elderly drivers vary, and they can also drive safely with the help of advanced technology.
Private vehicles are like a lifeline for people working in the agricultural or fishery industry, many of whom often continue to work till a much later life stage. Some are still working even in their 80s, and driving is inevitable. No alternative solution is available for them, and no one has the right to take their licences away unless they have health issues.
Generally speaking, the reaction time and the judgement abilities deteriorate with age. But there is a considerable difference in the deterioration between individuals. Besides, those who are aware of ageing do not do anything reckless. They would not, for instance, drive fast in the dark or rain when their vision is limited. Age is, therefore, not an ideal indicator to measure the skills and abilities of safe driving.
Finally, licences limited to vehicles with driving safety support systems are now available. One of the features of such vehicles would prevent drivers from accelerating mistakenly. Self-driving cars will also be available in the market soon. Seniors should be allowed to drive automobiles with such advanced technology.
In short, whether senior drivers give up their right to drive should be arbitrary, not mandatory at a certain age.
まとめ
アメリカの自動車技術会や日本の国土交通省の定義では、自動運転レベルは0から5まであるそうです。日本では現在レベル3の条件付き運転自動化された車両が販売されています。
高齢ドライバーや障がい者が自動車に乗り、他の人に頼むことなく気軽に好きな所へ移動することを可能にするには、レベル4以上の車が必要になってきます。どこへでも・いつでも・どんなコンディションでもという事になればレベル5の自動運転車が必要になってきます。このレベルの車の実用化にはまだ技術開発が必要なようですし、免許書は必要なのか・事故になった場合の責任所在などの法制化もすすめなければなりません。
こちらの記事もお薦めです。英検1級ライティング＆面接対策18【日本はプラごみ削減に十分に取り組んでいるか】
