China extends license age limit for drivers

27/12/2024 16:32

China will extend licence age limits for drivers of medium-sized and large buses as well as trucks, as part of broader efforts to address the challenges posed by an aging population, falling birth rate and a shrinking labour pool.



Keeping older transportation workers on the payroll will be key to helping maintain stability across China's vast transportation system in the medium-term as the sector plans to adopt more autonomous vehicles.



Just over a decade ago, the capital Beijing allowed male bus drivers to retire five years earlier - at the age of 55 - for health reasons, as it was concerned about operational safety.



China has since reversed course due to its declining work force.



From next year, the maximum age that a person can apply for a licence to drive and operate a medium-sized or large buses, as well as trucks will be raised to 63 from 60, the Public Security Ministry said in a statement on Friday.



Drivers over 63 can also apply for a licence extension of up to three years, provided they pass medical exams and tests on memory, situational judgment and reaction time.