Taipei: Taiwan plans to allow road authorities to use health data to identify drivers who may no longer be medically fit to hold a license, the government said Tuesday. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) announced that the proposed system would focus on drivers with visual impairments, epilepsy, and moderate or severe dementia. The initiative aims to enhance road safety by ensuring that only medically fit individuals have the privilege to drive.

According to Focus Taiwan, the plan involves road authorities periodically obtaining data on the specified medical conditions from government agencies. This includes information collected from individuals applying for certain government subsidies or insurance programs. The collected data would be cross-checked against driver records to identify those who may require a new qualification review. Drivers found potentially unfit to drive would be asked to undergo this review, and those failing would need to surrender their licenses.

The MOTC estimates that approximately 47,000 drivers could be impacted by this new system, which is expected to be implemented by the end of 2026. Currently, such medical checks are typically conducted only when drivers renew their licenses. The proposed system aims to address situations where drivers develop medical conditions or experience age-related changes after initially obtaining their licenses, potentially affecting their driving capabilities.

This proposal is a continuation of amendments made to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act last November. These amendments require drivers to undergo a new qualification review if their physical or mental condition no longer meets the necessary standards for driving. The new regulations outline which data government agencies can provide and how it can be collected, processed, and used, with a focus on data minimization.

The introduction of these measures comes amid growing concerns about the safety of drivers with certain medical conditions. Under the current regulations, individuals with epilepsy, for example, can apply for a driver's license if they provide a doctor's certificate proving they have been seizure-free for at least two years.