Driving assessment for older taxi drivers in Singapore

Abstract

Aims Licensing authorities in different countries differ in their approaches to the use of age based licensing, medical fitness and driving assessments. This article describes a new licensing policy introduced in Singapore in 2006 whereby driving assessment by occupational therapists became a critical stage in the licensing process for older taxi drivers. Preliminary data on the older taxi drivers are presented. Implications for future studies and clinical intervention are discussed. Methods Information was gained from the Land Transport Authority of Singapore on current taxi drivers, the projected number of taxi drivers aged 70 years who were eligible to renew their licences in 2008, 2009, 2010, and any data on accidents, demerit points and complaints against taxi drivers. Information about the 70 year old taxi drivers that had undergone the functional driving assessment program in 2006 and 2007 was gained from the Department of Occupational Therapy. This information was analysed. Findings There was a very high pass rate - 98% of those aged 70 or over who took the test, passed. Conclusions The high pass rate needs further exploration. Future research can explore the cost effectiveness of the licensing and driving assessment systems in terms of accident rates, the validity of on road tests and useful predictive off road tests.

Mandatory retirement for older professional drivers: an exploration of experiences for older Singaporean taxi drivers

“…According to research literature, an unexpected event is associated with a more difficult transition compared to an expected event (van Solinge and Henkens 2008). The local scenario of licensing policy for taxi drivers (Chan, Gustafsson and Liddle 2010 a ) informed the research team that there was a possible range of retirement experiences for older taxi drivers aged 70–73 years. When older taxi drivers fail their driving tests at 70 years of age, an unexpected event would likely have occurred.…”

“…Subsequently, there have been regional reviews of policies which have included the prevention of forced early retirement prior to 65 years, for example in Europe and Singapore (Goh 2009; Ministry of Manpower, Singapore 2013), and the removal of mandatory retirement policy in the United States of America (USA) (von Wachter 2012). Despite no shortage of labour supply to the Singaporean taxi driver workforce due to the newer surge of younger citizens into the industry (Tan 2013), the taxi licensing policy in Singapore was revised in 2006 following lobbying by older taxi drivers (Chan, Gustafsson and Liddle 2010 a ).…”

An intervention to support professional driver retirement transition: Results of a pilot study for older taxi drivers in Singapore

“…Professional taxi drivers in Singapore have to comply with a government mandatory age-based retirement policy (Chan et al., 2010). In 2006, older taxi drivers in Singapore successfully lobbied for extension of their working life.…”

“…In 2006, older taxi drivers in Singapore successfully lobbied for extension of their working life. Occupational therapists were tasked by policy makers to administer the newly introduced functional driving assessment in the relicensing process of medically fit 70-year-old taxi drivers to 73 years of age (Chan et al., 2010). Anecdotal accounts by driver assessor therapists highlighted how 70-year-old taxi drivers were reluctant to discuss plans for their expected mandatory retirement within 3 years.…”

“…Singaporean taxi drivers are self-employed, lower income workers who are not eligible for any institutional pension schemes. Unlike the national mandatory retirement age of 62 years for pensionable workers (Ministry of Manpower, 2007), Singaporean taxi drivers have a comparatively longer working life, even prior to extension of the 70-year-old age limit in 2006 (Chan et al., 2010). As they have been identified as an at-risk group of retirees, it is a matter of concern that about 300 older taxi drivers reportedly opted for relicensing at 70 years of age annually since 2006 with a projected increase in future trends (Chan et al., 2010).…”