9 in 10 dementia patients pass driving fitness tests, audit reveals

The vast majority of drivers diagnosed with dementia who underwent fitness-to-drive assessments by the Road Traffic Authority have retained their licenses, a National Assembly audit has revealed. Lawmakers also flagged a loophole in the oversight system that allows disqualified dementia patients to keep driving for up to six months if they fail to appear for a mandatory fitness review.

People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Young-jin raised the issue Monday at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit of the Korean National Police Agency and the Road Traffic Authority, held at the agency's headquarters in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. "Of the 1,558 people who took the special fitness assessment at the Road Traffic Authority, only 49 failed — just 3.1 percent," Kwon said. "Isn't this serious? Are these assessments actually working for patients who have received long-term care ratings for dementia or have been hospitalized for more than six months?"

Data submitted to Kwon by the Road Traffic Authority and released that day showed that of the 12,794 people aged 65 or older notified in 2025 that they were subject to a special fitness assessment for dementia, only 1,558 actually took the test — and 96.9 percent of those still hold a valid license.

Of the 1,509 who retained their licenses, 938 (60.2 percent) passed outright and 571 (36.7 percent) received a deferred ruling. Only 49 (3.1 percent) were found unfit. A separate 10,001 people had their licenses revoked for failing to sit the assessment at all.

"These are dementia patients aged 65 or older who have received long-term care ratings or have been hospitalized for more than six months — they are not early-stage patients," Kwon said. "Yet this many people are still holding onto their licenses."

Kwon also highlighted a loophole in the administrative process that allows disqualified drivers to remain on the road for up to six months. "People whose licenses should be revoked are still driving for six months," he said, breaking down the timeline: a 45-day notification window, a three-month period to complete the assessment, up to five days for the Road Traffic Authority to notify police, and a final 40-day period for police to issue the revocation notice.

Road Traffic Authority Chairman Kim Hui-jung said drivers who pass the assessment are generally those with milder conditions. "The people making the fitness determinations are all physicians," he said.

He added that balancing road safety for the general public with the mobility rights of older and transportation-vulnerable individuals is a difficult challenge. As a potential solution, he said the Korean National Police Agency and the Road Traffic Authority are conducting research into introducing a separate conditional license system.