76-year-old man arrested after causing accident and driving without license for 50 years

Old people should be pulled over periodically by the police to check on their license and ability to drive, starting at age 60. 

How the heck are the police supposed to know who is "driving while old" (DWO). Furthermore, they'd have to pull over almost half the drivers out there to get everybody. Besides, having them pulled over on the side of the road would probably be more of a danger to other traffic. Japanese roads don't exactly have wide shoulders.

The bicyclist also had no drivers license. While none is required, there is no system in place to ensure that the millions of bicyclists on the road ate knowledgeable of traffic and safety laws, are insured, or contribute to the cost of maintaining roadways.

He did so well for fifty years without a license. He should be allowed to keep up the good work .

Perhaps not having a license made him a SAFER, more cautious driver, to which fifty years of presumed driving without ANY issue would strongly testify. No evidence here of who ran into whom and, as one who considers cars my chief predator and proactively hates all drivers when I'm on a bicycle, my money here would be on the cycler's responsibility and bad luck for Mr Abe. That the two wheeled participant had only "minor injuries" would also testify that Mr Abe had good control of his vehicle at the time.

In my own experience on my way to my wedding in Hiroshima in a cab, I saw the driver preparing to make a left turn look over his shoulder at the sidewalk and start the turn, when a fast bicycler came out of the people on the sidewalk and landed on the hood of the cab. Apparently the bicycler knew who had screwed up and pulled himself off of the hood, glared at the driver, got back on his bike and continued on. Fortunately, it was not a 'sign' of the success of our marriage, or maybe it was: Things happen but good prevails. Naive, but a good psychosis with which to meet this World...

Good luck, Mr Abe. Maybe just not an auspicious era for the Abe clan...

Not caught for fifty years? He should get platinum drivers license!

No probs Snow-san! I do like most of your posts by the way. Thanks for challenging various thoughts.

Despite someone‘s age, oft boasted experience, education & alleged wealth, their behaviors can be perceived as, well…, for lack of a better word: ‘infantile’? I never change a person’s statements, I will repost “as is’, when available. I did pose a question @7:51pm: “Didn’t ‘someone” also claim previously that they have already surrendered their driver’s license, routinely hire a private driver or use public transportation due to elderly health issues?” -

So, after a little digging, “Apologies”, (in part). Here’s actual claim, verbatim:

*- Sep 19, 2021 Crime “5-year jail term finalized for 90-year-old over fatal crash” - @10:11am: “I don’t consider myself elderly even though I have asthma, four major eye operations, gout, and a bad lower back…but the police gave me my gold license renewal. I said thanks. I keep it as a picture ID. I knew I should not be behind a wheel. Gave up driving 11 years ago. Even quit my bike. Got rid of the car and bike. Never tempted at all! Public transport is great here.” -*

Now, concerning restructuring a reader’s previous comments, that dubiousness belongs to someone else:

*- Sep 5, 2021, 3:39pm: “Daily 81km Bike rides? Do you pass out ¥100,000 notes along the way to the farmers hurting during these economic times? I doubt you ride 81km every day. That would have to be the exact same route daily. *

Btw: “Thank You” for no longer driving & cycling. The streets and cycling paths are probably safer for everyone due to you taking responsibility.

2 Year OldToday  07:05 pm JST I have been driving in Tokyo for 20 years…

I Have been saying exactly what you say in your post several times in the past on JT. People on bicycles are the biggest lawbreakers on the roads. They never used to be. Whenever there is a bicycle accident involving a car, I am suspicious of who really is at fault. Everything that "2 year old said " is exactly what I come across every day. The latest trend seems to be riding at night with no lights and riding wherever they choose, and against on coming traffic.

@Zichi: I never ever wrote anywhere that I surrendered my license. Mr. Snowey changes people's statements. I wrote that I keep my Gold License as a picture identification when traveling on planes as a tertiary picture ID. Renew it when needed.

I do not drive a car anymore nor a bike. If I need a driver I do not have to hire one, I have one. I love public transportation and take the best they have in Japan as it is fantastic. I prefer fast walking over jogging because it is better for the knees for when I become so-called elderly.

I hope that clears the elderly/confused mind of Snowey.

My peripheral vision checks out perfectly on machines testing it but even though love tech and modern med, I decided I feel it is off and I should not drive. Nobody needs to drive in Japan.

Just saying.

snowymountainhellToday  07:51 pm JST

Confused, Didn’t someone also claim previously that they have already surrendered their driver’s license, routinely hire a private driver, or use public transportation due to elderly health issues?

- @ShinkansenCaboose 5:55pm: “I never carry my license.” -

Seems to be inconsistent commentary.) Just saying’.

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zichiToday  09:28 pm JST

ShinkansenCaboose

I never carry my license.

You posted due to the health issues you gave up driving some years ago? You posted you surrendered your license. Confused?

Today a lady plowed right through a red light at least 25-30 seconds too late, right across the path of me and a taxi in the lane next to me. We were doing 50kph as we came from the lights about 40 meters before the intersection. Death wish!

Death wish or payout wish?

Cyclists who ignore the laws drive me crazy. So many close calls over the years. And I’m a cyclist. I have no patience for them.

Confused, Didn’t someone also claim previously that they have already surrendered their driver’s license, routinely hire a private driver or use public transportation due to elderly health issues?

*- @ShinkansenCaboose 5:55pm: “I never carry my license.” -*

Seems to be inconsistent commentary.) Just saying’.

50 years without any problems!!? i would issue him a license right away

I have been driving in Tokyo for 20 years… and the past 18 months have been the worst. The was bicycle riders swerve on and off the sidewalk, do u turns onto pedestrian crossings, run red lights with glee, go down narrow one way streets the wrong way, looking at their phone, holding an umbrella etc etc etc… and this guy had no problems for 50 years that we know of.

I would think it is 50/50 or greater chance the bike rider could be at fault.

Indeive almost everyday and I could post 1-5 videos from the dash cam EVERY day of cyclists I see who avoid death or a major accident a few seconds or less, and that is due to diligent drivers, or the car’s safety features… literally every day without fail.

Today a lady plowed right through a red light at least 25-30 seconds too late, right across the path of me and a taxi in the lane next to me. We were doing 50kph as we came from the lights about 40 meters before the intersection. Death wish!

Great story, the fault is on the Government, not the 76-year-old. He beat the system.

I never carry my license.

He managed to avoid the long lectures each time one renews their licence.

Licenses are important. The license to drive, moderate or what ever. I think and probably everyone else here thinks online moderators should be licensed as well as posters as well to prove credibility.

Why do so many people here seem to assume that it was not his own vehicle?

On the bright side, that means he hadn't received a traffic ticket or caused an accident in fifty years. He deserves a "gold" license.

Almost all traffic accidents, injuries and deaths are caused by people with licenses. They are the dangerous ones.

Funny, but bad logic.

Who needs a license anyway? Did you need a license to ride a horse?

Almost all traffic accidents, injuries and deaths are caused by people with licenses. They are the dangerous ones.

Good to see that the sovereign citizen movement has long, deep roots in Japan. Right to freely travel and all that…

Old people should be pulled over periodically by the police to check on their license and ability to drive, starting at age 60. They are unsafe and sometimes illegal at any speed unless checked.

I didn't know 60 was "old". Why stop with old people then? I've seen dozens of young housewives blast through red lights, make lane changes without signaling, etc. AND they're licensed too.

So in 50 years without a license, he's never once been stopped by the police, never once shown his driver's license (which he doesn't have)? What about vehicle registration, inspection, etc?

A driver's license is not required to register / inspect a vehicle.

Old people should be pulled over periodically by the police to check on their license and ability to drive, starting at age 60. They are unsafe and sometimes illegal at any speed unless checked.

Uh, no.

And the 18 to 26 age group is far more dangerous.

So in 50 years without a license, he's never once been stopped by the police, never once shown his driver's license (which he doesn't have)? What about vehicle registration, inspection, etc?

Eh? Why would you think the laws around courtesy cars and lending someone a car would be equivalent?

Because that is exactly what a courtesy car is.. Lending your customer a car while you fix/service theirs.

Get your facts right before spouting off.

Your brother in law can do as he pleases but the road traffic laws say otherwise, and why do you think car rental agencies verify diver's licenses?

And as I pointed out several major food chains ( including 2 major pizza delivery companies) were in the news just earlier in the year for using non licensed drivers.

In 2018 the law was changed to accommodate self driving cars putting the responsibility on the car owner, in 2019 the supreme Court decision confirmed that this new regulation also applied to human drivers.

So as it is now the car owner is the one ultimately responsible.

Laws change and it is the owner's responsibility to be up on current laws.

My brother in law runs a used car company and regularly gives customers a car to use when their car is being worked on. There have been multiple accidents and he has never been found responsible.

Eh? Why would you think the laws around courtesy cars and lending someone a car would be equivalent?

If his car has passed the inspection then he has the compulsory liability insurance.

The vehicle owner is not liable in anyway whatsoever. I have owned more cars and motorcycles than I can count in Japan and my brother in law runs a used car company so I speak from first hand experience

Actually no!

If the driver is not licensed the insurance company can and will refuse to pay and yes the owner that let a non licensed drive use the car can be held responsible both for injuries and by the police.

This was in the news not long ago when several food chains were using unlicensed drivers to do home delivery.

The motor vehicle owner is responsible to verify that the person they are letting us the car has the appropriate license.

Old people should be pulled over periodically by the police to check on their license and ability to drive, starting at age 60. They are unsafe and sometimes illegal at any speed unless checked.

Jail. Do not pass go.

Wishing the victim a quick recovery. He may mostly likely have NO INSURANCE. No DL for 50 years?

So, to whom is the vehicle registered, passed inspections, etc? And, isn’t THAT vehicle owner now also personal liable for the injuries and property damage?