Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

AP/Press Association Images

Drink soup, don't drive: Japan police tell the elderly

The move comes as older people are seen as a liability on the roads.

JAPANESE POLICE ARE offering noodle discounts to elderly citizens who hand in their driving licences, promising them cheaper ramen soup in exchange for improved road safety.

The edible offer comes after a series of deadly accidents caused by cars driven by the elderly – a growing problem in a country where 4.8 million people aged 75 or older hold a licence.

In the hopes of appealing to seniors’ stomachs, police in the central prefecture of Aichi on Friday started offering the discounts via a tie-up with a local restaurant chain.

Elderly drivers who give up their permits will receive a certificate from police which they can present when ordering the noodles to see the price reduced from 590 yen to 500 yen (€4.93 to €4.19), an Aichi police spokesman told AFP.

Last month, a six-year-old boy died and 11 others were injured after an 87-year-old driver’s pickup truck hit elementary school children walking to school on a street in Yokohama.

The country is introducing a new rule in March under which drivers aged 75 or older must pass cognitive tests when renewing their licences.

Aiming to set an example, a 97-year-old high-ranking Buddhist priest last week returned his driver’s licence, calling on his elderly compatriots to do the same.

“It’s stupid to try to maintain your licences just out of pride,” said Taa Shinen.

– © AFP 2016

More: Femicide has claimed the lives of over 200 women since 1996, says report

Read: Over 2.3 million language learners have signed up for Irish lessons on Duolingo

Author
View 20 comments
Close
20 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Claffey
    Favourite Sean Claffey
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:51 PM

    This is probably my best Monday in a long time. Got up at 5am and went to the gym and had a nice breakfast. Feel great. Pity next time I do this will probably be the first day of 2016.

    358
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Art Vandelay
    Favourite Art Vandelay
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:43 PM

    It’s the longest Monday of all time. Kill me, please….

    146
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sarah Collier
    Favourite Sarah Collier
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:32 PM

    I coped grand last Monday thanks not everybody had a long break

    138
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute martina
    Favourite martina
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:35 PM

    Agreed Sarah!
    Advice: Get over it Dawson

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ariana
    Favourite Ariana
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 9:03 PM

    And I coped fine the Saturday before.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kal Ipers
    Favourite Kal Ipers
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:59 PM

    Well today has made it very clear that I go get a different job. Idiots remain idiots after 2 weeks off. The only difference is it is clearer today

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Byrne
    Favourite Dave Byrne
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:44 PM

    Well I was working over the xmas and I’m not back in work for another week.

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard O'Callaghan
    Favourite Richard O'Callaghan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:36 PM

    Wore my yoga pants in this morning – damn the begrudgers.

    100
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Michael Mulligan
    Favourite Stephen Michael Mulligan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:02 PM

    The amount of people who appeared to be relearning how to drive this morning on the M7/M9 was fairly disheartening.

    The commute to work last week was lane-hog free.

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Knight
    Favourite George Knight
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:30 PM

    Couldn’t sleep till half 5 with the fear of coming in. Looking at the clock said 10 past 2….looked at what in my mind was a half hour said 5 past 2……Think I was taken by aliens!!!!!

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason
    Favourite Jason
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:38 PM

    These articles are very presumptuous – a lot of us are back a week now. And I’ve a ‘cushy’ office job.

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ally
    Favourite Ally
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 5:15 PM

    Was torture… Kept waking up all night- in case I missed the alarm! Worst January blues ever, new job needed.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jeanniejampots
    Favourite Jeanniejampots
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:34 PM

    Easing myself into it, started early so I could finish now :)

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EverybodyCYHSY!
    Favourite EverybodyCYHSY!
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 7:02 PM

    Happy enough to be back, though was absolutely positive I had finally got over my office crush, only to see the person in question today, and automatically feel that weird dull ache in my heart. Damn you good-looking co-worker!

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Donovan
    Favourite Brian Donovan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:06 PM

    Took a half day…..
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    …… To go and do a college exam :-(

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Kavanagh
    Favourite Mary Kavanagh
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 5:29 PM

    Best of luck. Hope it went well.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gumbridge
    Favourite gumbridge
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:42 PM

    Oh, I hate Mondays.
    Thank God for cigarettes!

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute William Grogan
    Favourite William Grogan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Keep up the fags and you won’t have too many bad Mondays left.

    151
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maggie
    Favourite Maggie
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:54 PM

    Lmao

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aoibhin Ní Mhaille
    Favourite Aoibhin Ní Mhaille
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 3:35 PM

    I’m still here thanks to copious amounts of Neros coffee!

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Allison Smith
    Favourite Allison Smith
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 5:20 PM

    Oh you poor poor people that had 2 weeks off. I worked Christmas day and all over Christmas. Just glad I wasn’t in today to witness all the traffic

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kal Ipers
    Favourite Kal Ipers
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 5:30 PM

    Everyday I don’t work I don’t get paid so Christmas is v expensive. Between the bank holidays and days the company closes it is the only long break I can take by taking a few days off I get 2 weeks but that is it for the year.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
    Favourite Mark Gerard Lochlain
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Delighted to be back into a routine!!! Gym at 6am and work was great actually!!! Feel very refreshed!!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maggie
    Favourite Maggie
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:54 PM

    Weirdo

    103
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute fuve
    Favourite fuve
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:37 PM

    I was back the Saturday after Stephens day bunch of wusses. I usually count one hour ahead. So if I have five hours to go I think,only four hours to go and go on. Keep busy with anything of quiet and day flies in.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mrs Shalakalananaka
    Favourite Mrs Shalakalananaka
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 6:56 PM

    I don’t work Monday-Friday, 9-5, so I’m grand.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kel Lynch
    Favourite Kel Lynch
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 6:12 PM

    Was tough enough!! Quieter week this week as courts not open again until next week but still missing not getting up until at least 11am…

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre Casey
    Favourite Deirdre Casey
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 4:52 PM

    On site massage helps big time! Prebooked before xmas to ease back in to the routine!
    These guys are great! http://www.zestatwork.ie

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Cooper
    Favourite Philip Cooper
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Ugh.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trevor Weafer
    Favourite Trevor Weafer
    Report
    Jan 5th 2015, 11:28 PM

    Not back until the 12th.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds