Today's Close-Up S2026E01 - Braking Point: The Science of Safe Driving as We Age

For many elderly Japanese, a car provides vital access to daily necessities and essential services. While many remain confident in the safety of their driving, their families often become concerned with the decline in their cognitive and physical functions. Should they keep their driver's license or give it up? It's a question given added urgency by a spate of accidents involving older drivers. Researchers are hoping to provide an answer with a new body of data-driven work that has given rise to the idea of the "driving lifespan" - the years during which someone can continue to safely operate a vehicle. We take a look at what the latest science shows and ask an expert what people can do to extend their driving lifespan as much as possible. 

Guest: Shimada Hiroyuki (Director, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology)