No more driving after 80! Peru has just become the first country to set a firm age limit for driving. Under new rules from the Ministry of Transport and Communications (Peru), drivers over 80 will no longer be allowed to keep their licenses.
The goal is to make the roads safer, not to punish anyone. As we get older, our eyesight can weaken, reflexes slow, and moving quickly becomes harder. Under the new rules, it’s not just your age that matters; you’ll also need to pass a medical exam to stay behind the wheel.
The rules affect both bus and van drivers and drivers of private vehicles, but the limits are stricter for professional drivers. The government says this is part of a bigger plan to prevent accidents before they happen, using regular health checks and cognitive and physical assessments to make sure drivers are still fit to handle a vehicle.
New rules for drivers in Peru
For bus and van drivers, the rule is clear: once you turn 80, there are no more renewals. That means no professional bus or van driving past that age.
For drivers of private vehicles, there’s more flexibility. From 70 to 75 years old, you can get a license renewal for another five years. After 75, renewals last three years, but only if you pass the medical examination.
Drivers who are 80 or 81 and in excellent health might be allowed one last two-year extension. After that, the license ends permanently.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (Peru) says the goal is to cut down on accidents caused by slower reflexes, weaker eyesight, and other age-related changes while still allowing healthy older drivers to keep driving for as long as it’s safe.
Other countries are adopting similar policies
Peru may be the first country with a set age limit for driving, but Romania has also tightened the rules for older drivers. Instead of banning driving at a certain age, Romania requires more frequent renewals and medical checks.
In Romania, licenses last ten years until age 65. Between 65 and 70, they must be renewed every five years. After 70, renewals happen every three years, and after 80, every two years. Each renewal requires passing a full medical exam.
Even without a hard age limit, many Romanian drivers end up giving up their licenses earlier because they can’t meet the medical requirements, a move the government says is necessary for road safety.
What the medical exam checks
Whether you’re in Peru or Romania, the medical examination is key to keeping your license as you get older. It’s a full cognitive and physical assessment designed to see if you can still drive safely.
It includes:
- Eye tests for clarity and depth perception
- Psychological assessment like motor skills checks to see if you can control the vehicle
- Neuropsychiatric evaluation to check on reaction time and memory tests
- General health checks for certain conditions
Chronic illness such as diabetes, epilepsy or a heart condition will disqualify you immediately. Fail the exam, and your license renewal won’t go through. Some serious conditions can lead to an automatic loss of driving rights.
Officials in both countries say it’s simple; drivers should only be on the road if they can react fast, make smart decisions, and keep themselves and everyone around them safe.
For those who are in great shape, it might feel annoying to have to pass an evaluation every three or five years.
But for those who don’t visit their doctor often, it’s also a way to get regular check-ups and make sure there’s no risk to yourself, the passengers in the back seat, the car behind you, or the pedestrians crossing the street.