In line with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' "Three Strategies for Driver License Management," the Highway Bureau has completed a comprehensive reform plan aimed at improving Taiwan's driver's license system. At the heart of this reform is a people-oriented approach, designed to cultivate correct driving attitudes and moral awareness through enhanced systems for new drivers, retraining for traffic violators, and a tiered renewal system for older drivers. The initiative seeks to foster a culture of giving way and respect on the road while strengthening safe driving practices. The reform focuses on three main areas: enhancing testing standards for new drivers; reinforcing corrective training for traffic violations; and implementing a tiered and supportive license renewal system for older drivers. A total of nine reform programs have been developed, encompassing 17 specific measures that will be implemented in phases starting January 2026. The goal is to establish a comprehensive driver management and care system, and strengthening drivers' compliance with traffic regulations and vigilance on the road, thereby helping achieve the national road safety target of reducing annual traffic fatalities by 7%.

The Highway Bureau has outlined the details of its comprehensive reform plan for the driver's license management system as follows:

1.       Testing System Reform

Starting from the source, the Highway Bureau will review and enhance the current driver testing system, with plans to raise the level of differentiation in written tests. True-or-false questions for both automobile and motorcycle in written tests will be completely replaced by multiple-choice questions, and hazard perception and scenario-based questions will be added. The automobile written test will also feature these new question types, while the motorcycle test will have a significantly increased proportion to strengthen applicants' ability to respond to risks and perceive road hazards. New evaluation actions will be added to the road test to assess ability to recognize when to give way. Small vehicle tests will include a "blind-spot check" requirement, while large vehicle tests will have a "point-and-call confirmation" step. These additions aim to cultivate human-centered driving awareness and moral responsibility from the outset. In addition, driving simulators will be introduced to both automobile and motorcycle training courses, and on-road motorcycle driving training and testing will also be implemented in the future.

2.       Retraining System for Traffic Violations

To correct unsafe driving behaviors and enhance traffic safety awareness, new retraining requirements will apply to specific types of violations, including running red lights; failing to give way at uncontrolled intersections; and not slowing down near pedestrian crossings, hospitals, or schools without traffic signals. Ordinary drivers committing three violations within one year and professional large-vehicle drivers committing two violations within one year will be required to attend corrective training courses to address improper driving concepts promptly. Repeat offenders who pose significant risks to road safety will have to take an offender's course, including a new "Underage Repeat Offenders Course" for drivers under 18 caught driving without a license multiple time. The "Repeat Offender Retraining Course" and "DUI Repeat Offender Course" will be improved with expanded content and will take longer to complete to ensure offenders learn about safety. Drivers whose licenses have been revoked for more than three years must complete driving training courses before reapplying for a license.

3.       Tiered License Renewal System for Older Drivers

This reform does not aim to restrict elderly drivers from the road but to ensure their safety and mobility. Before renewal, drivers aged 70 and above will undergo an evaluation by a qualified physician and receive free training courses on new traffic regulations and safety practices. Those who pass the medical examination can renew their license for another five years (until age 75). Drivers aged 75 and above will follow the current three-year renewal cycle, but if a violation results in an accident, the driver must pay for additional practical training at a certified driving school before renewing their license again. To support mobility and reduce transport expenses, drivers aged 70 and above who voluntarily surrender their licenses will receive TPASS public transportation subsidies (including taxi discounts). Through continued funding under the Highway Public Transportation Plan, the Highway Bureau will assist and guide local governments in improving public transportation networks and enhancing transit services in rural areas, thereby ensuring mobility rights and accessibility for senior citizens.

The Highway Bureau emphasized that the ultimate goal of the "Three Strategies for Driver's License Management" reform is to embed safety into everyday driving habits and make giving way a shared traffic culture. From enhancing the rigor of driver testing and implementing timely retraining for traffic violators to introducing a tiered license renewal and mobility support system for senior drivers, every measure centers on the concept of people-oriented transportation. The comprehensive approach aims to strengthen driving competence and safety awareness across all age groups, reduce road risks, and drive a safer and more inclusive traffic environment.