New bill bodes well for senior citizen drivers

The justice minister, Mette Frederiksen, wants to increase the age for compulsory renewals of driving licences from 70 to 75.

admin

Nov 13, 2014

The justice minister, Mette Frederiksen, today proposed a new bill that would make changes to the law regarding mandatory driving licence renewals.

The news follows up on last month's story in which calls were made for the law to be reassessed.

The bill, which would see the age for mandatory renewals increase from 70 to 75, is based on a new report conducted by the National Health Board, National Police and the Ministry of Justice. The report concludes increasing the age could be done responsibly and without compromising road safety.

"We have many septuagenarians in Denmark who drive just as confidently as they always have" the justice minister, Mette Frederiksen, told DR.

"By increasing the age-limit to 75, we ensure our senior citizens can wait five years longer before they have to pay for a medical check-up when renewing their driving licence."

70 is the new 60
Under the current rules, which have existed since 1966, a licence holder is required to pay for a medical in order to renew their licence once they reach 70 years of age. Danish society has come a long way since then, which is the reasoning behind the bill.

"Times have changed significantly for our senior citizens. One can sense being 73 years old today is entirely different from say a generation ago," remarked Frederiksen.

Several elderly rights advocates had previously pledged support for an increase in the age limit – support that pleased the minister.

"There appears to be strong backing for increasing the age-limit. I am therefore more than happy to propose a bill that affects so many road-users," concluded Frederiksen.

In 2013, the number of drivers requiring a compulsory medical to renew their licences stood at 200,000 – a figure that suggests many (approximately 100,000) had put off getting it done.

TOP STORIES

Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes
A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

t’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.
“No one seems to stand up for internationals”

“To some extent, Denmark is not fair to internationals.” Nichlas Walsted, 34 years old, is the CEO of Swap Language, a provider of Danish lessons to more than 10,000 internationals. Tens of thousands of people follow him, and he advocates for internationals: “Because no one else does. I can’t think of a single politician or well-known person in Denmark who stands up for them,” he says.
Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

Almost 30 million passengers travelled to or from Copenhagen Airport in 2024. The profit was 1.4 billion DKK and both figures are expected to grow in 2025. Expansions continue, and investments are being made in continued progress
Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Career

Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.
Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy
Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.