One dead, 3 injured after car driven by 84-year-old woman hits them on Kagoshima sidewalk

It’s about time that the Japanese authorities got tougher on the elderly by checking mental health and reflexes for driving ability.

As Japan ages these deaths will only escalate unless action is taken.

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

Imagine walking on perfectly safe sidewalk and then suddenly getting runover and killed by an errant car? Can happen to anyone.

If they have demand more stringent testing they will be condemning the a large percentage of the population to their homes. Which will rigger local government in providing personal transport for large part of the tax paying community. The sooner they can commission self driving car on to the roads to avoid these deaths the better.

A man was killed, a woman is in a critical condition and two other people were seriously injured after a car driven by an 84-year-old woman jumped the curb and ran into them on a sidewalk

84 that's still younger compared to accident the one in Ikebukuro at that time the driver 87, in 2019 which killed a mother and daughter.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190504/p2a/00m/0na/019000c

I don’t know how often checks are made on seniors who drive but surely it should be annually. At this type of age people can suddenly deteriorate mentally and/or physically.

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

You shouldn't be driving at that age.

Automated taxis are long overdue. Let technology help the elderly.

Automated taxis are long overdue. Let technology help the elderly.

I agree. But not just automated taxis. Automated vehicles in general. Long overdue like you said.

Very unfortunate victims

I wonder what measures the other countries have in terms of regulating senior drivers

Maybe Japan can learn from them

My 81 year old friend just sold her car and gave up her license. She is lucky because she lives in the center of the city and close to shops and amenities. Although she was shocked to find that there are not enough taxis. She has to wait at least 1 hour to get a taxi!

an 84-year-old woman jumped the curb

That wreckage looks like she tried to fly it into the curb.

Older drivers do in fact have to take an examination after 70 and a cognitive test after 75. The only problem is that it is when they need to renew their license, which could be at 5 year intervals. The test should be held more frequently for sure.

http://www.adsa.or.jp/license/koureisha.html

I know this will be an unpopular view, but 84 is too old to be driving. An 84 year old can be very healthy, but the chance of a sudden cognitive or medical event happening is high.

Rest in Peace to the poor victim. I just hope the other victims pull through.

I wonder if were going to hear the old "I got confused and hit the accelerator instead f the brake" line again.

That looks like a 2015 ish Prius. I believe it will have some kind of automated braking, but it didn't stop the car fast enough and help the victims here. Most concening is if it hit them one after the other. I mention it because one option would be to limit elderly drivers to cars with such systems. Safety systems in cars have often featured in articles on tv, but their effect may not be all it is claimed to be.

Fingers crossed for the survivors.

It’s about time that the Japanese authorities got tougher on the elderly by checking mental health and reflexes for driving ability.

They do already.

I don’t know how often checks are made on seniors who drive but surely it should be annually. At this type of age people can suddenly deteriorate mentally and/or physically.

If you don't know then it's easily checked, or read on. Are you medically qualified to make that statement?

Older drivers do in fact have to take an examination after 70 and a cognitive test after 75. The only problem is that it is when they need to renew their license, which could be at 5 year intervals. The test should be held more frequently for sure.

Correct but the renewal is for 3 years then another test is necessary.

I know this will be an unpopular view, but 84 is too old to be driving. An 84 year old can be very healthy, but the chance of a sudden cognitive or medical event happening is high.

Are you medically qualified to make this blanket statement?

Japanese can't drive to the law at 34 let alone 84.

A lot of truth in this.

i feel badly for all.

we don’t know. she may have had some kind of medical event contributing to this.

@JeffLee

Imagine walking on perfectly safe sidewalk and then suddenly getting runover and killed by an errant car? Can happen to anyone.

This is so true and something I think about when I’m out with my kids.

I don’t believe not being allowed to drive is the same as being condemned to stay in one’s own home. My elderly Mother was able to get around with volunteer drivers from the local community. And I believe a kind of Uber service is authorized in rural areas?

84 years old and still driving, in a nation with so much reliable public transportation.

That looks like a 2015 ish Prius

The "liberal" car in the States, in Japan it has a nickname: "Prius Missile"

Seriously, what's wrong with this car? I've never driven one but maybe the acceleration is so fast and smooth the driver doesnt even realize how fast they're going?

my boyfriend cut my 74 old FIL driving license in half telling him he's a danger to society.

The main problem with the Prius is that old people in Japan drive them. This has labeled the car as an "ossan guruma", so that image-conscious young people don't buy them even though they are good cars.

There was a "stuck accelerator" scandal in the States about Toyotas in general, but investigations proved that this was due to sellers, who are independent and not actually dealerships under Toyota's control, putting unsecured third-party floor mats in the cars. These would then slide and hit the accelerator. The Ikebukuro guy was also coincidentally in a Prius that he tried to blame, but the car was investigated and there was nothing wrong with it.

The "liberal" car in the States, in Japan it has a nickname: "Prius Missile"

Seriously, what's wrong with this car? I've never driven one but maybe the acceleration is so fast and smooth the driver doesnt even realize how fast they're going?

There is zero indication there is anything "wrong" with this car - the 6th highest selling in Japan.

Seems you don't like Prius because it is supposedly a "liberal" car. Whatever that means.

Are you medically qualified to make that statement?

Harry, one needn't be an MD to offer an opinion about a societal issue. Clearly you're not a doctor, but you stand in judgement of others. So you've got a different opinion. Make your case.

Seems you don't like Prius because it is supposedly a "liberal" car. Whatever that means.

Everyone avoid black Prius on the roads, you don't know this because you don't drive

Initial reaction is wow, she was too old to drive. Completely agreed. However, collision detection vehicles and also self breaking, even full drive assist vehicles are already being developed and sold.

The Government should offer big discounts to those seniors and oblige them to only purchase those type of cars if they still want to drive at their age. In country side areas, the public trasportations is almost inexistent, including taxis, so it is understandable why the elderly need to drive their cars. However, those cars should be special cars with full assists.

Moderator: Thanks for your contribution. Your comment has been featured in the latest episode of the Japan This Week podcast. Visit the Japan Today top page to listen.

Finally rich -

Everyone avoid black Prius on the roads, you don't know this because you don't drive

I most certainly do.

Tell us - what are the problems with the Prius you claim exist?

I have a feeling you are getting upset by the calls for elderly people to give up driving? Might be time to hand in that license, mate. You could be next.

The circular dent in the windscreen is from someone's head. So not a good sign.

GarthgoyleToday 11:42 am JST

84 years old and still driving, in a nation with so much reliable public transportation.

Not everywhere, it depends where you are living. There are many rural areas in Japan where the next public transportation is rather far away and a small community bus is running only 3 to 5 times a day. To the next larger city it can take more than one hour, especially during bad weather like rain or snow.

When I retired, 65 y/o, 7 years ago, we were moving out of Tokyo to a much smaller city and bought a condominium unit in the suburbs. We were choosing carefully and made sure that the location of our new home is very near to a bus stop of a major road, about 30 to 40 buses running daily from about 07:00 AM to 09:00 PM to the town center, we also got from the ward office senior bus cards, half price of the regular fare.

I am still driving my small car and also riding my motorcycle, I am now 72 and got as a gold driving license holder last year after passing the elderly driver test another 4 years.

However if I cannot drive anymore due to old age, it's not really a problem for us, the building has an elevator, there are various shops and medical clinics nearby and only 150 meter away is the bus stop.

You have to think about retirement when you are 65 year old and to be aware that your daily way of life is changing.

It is possible to live comfortable outside of the large cities even without own car after retirement - there is more space for everybody, less traffic, more greenery, better air and water quality, much cheaper prices if you buy your own home - but it should not be too far outside in a rural remote area - make sure there is regular public transport near your home.

80 should be the age limit for driving. I haven't owned a car for 45 years and have managed without one.

Locally we have community buses, and community taxis (for over 70s and without a car). Local taxis to the nearest station. Friends and locals are happy to drive us to places. Large local stores and a good hospital and various clinics.

As a pedestrian, cyclist, motorbike rider and driver,I have noticed that older Prius cars seem to accelerate rather too quickly for their operators to handle, especially from standstill.

Hope the other victims pull through.

I notice that there's not a lot of sympathy emanating from a lot of the comments regarding the victims. I agree that age definitely is a major issue because of cognitive behaviour and reaction times are a major factor but people are very quick in playing Judge, Jury and Executioner when the Police haven't been able to interview the driver yet.

Maybe the govt. and the taxi associations should stop trying to block Uber and Lyft from operating freely here in Japan. Cheap alternative modes of transpo for the elderly might get more of them out of their cars and off the roads.

No more elderly driving!!..

A few years ago an old lady bumped into our car. The driver turned out to be an old lady fiddling with her dog. Fortunately, the driving was slow and we only got bump. It could have been worse. Yet, I shutter still about what could have happened. Lots of drivers of all ages view the car as a living room.