高齢化社会の「先進地域」ニッポン。世界に先駆け高齢者人口割合が増加しているなかで、さまざまな「変容」を余儀なくされている。なにげに本日のyahooトップページでは〜成田悠輔「高齢者は集団自決した方がいい」NYタイムズが発言報じて世界的大炎上「この上ないほど過激」〜という見出しの記事が目に飛び込んできていた。確かにちょっと過激ではと思いますが比喩表現だろうし、社会の中にさまざまな意見があるのは了解はできる。氏のご意見を読んでみるとポイントは「高齢者が社会の枢要な位置をほぼ独占している」現状への異議申し立てと思います。それは事実でもあるでしょう。高齢化社会での「活力」維持作戦として、より若い世代の活躍の場をというのは当然の意見。自分も客観的事実として高齢者になってきて冷静にその事実を受け止め、社会の中で自分の果たすべき役割を考えて行きたいと思っています。
少なくとも身体機能や認知機能について疑わしい事故例が見られる以上、交通ルールとして対応を考えて行くこと自体は自然な成り行き。かなり事前（たしか３ヶ月以上前と記憶）に「高齢者講習」の申込みハガキが送られてきて、そういうのはサッサと片付けたい方なので、すぐに申込みして昨日、受講して参りました。
きのう札幌は降雪の影響で道路は各所でほとんどが１車線のノロノロ状態。通常20分程度の道のりが倍以上かかって所定時間ギリギリの到着。
結果としては通常の免許更新手続きと違って、実際の運転実技時間もあってなかなか有意義なのではと思われました。通常の免許更新手続き費用が2,500円で高齢者講習費用が6,450円というのはやや疑問ではある（笑）。「高齢社会のおカネの流れの促進策」という声もありますが、言い得ているのかも知れないと思いました。が、実際に受けてみると「視野角度調査」「認知機能調査」「夜間認知機能調査」など自己認識に役立つチェックポイントの機械開発など、知恵と工夫の成果が見られました。従来の運転免許更新時講習と比較してかなり進化した内容。
また、運転実技の時間は隣に指導の方が同乗されてチェックしていただける。これは50年前の免許取得時以来の経験なので新鮮に感じました。運転技能では常識共有化ってなかなか難しい。ルール厳守は前提だけれど、長年自分だけの判断で知らず知らずに身についているクセの類は客観化する機会がない。一定の緊張感を持って確認できるのは意味があると思いました。
実技では雪に覆われた橋脚下をくぐる場所があってその場所を自分の判断で徐行運転しましたが、指導員からお褒めいただいた（エヘン）。その甲斐あってか「たいへ優良な運転マナーです」という評価でした。すっかりいい気分にさせていただけたので、6,450円もまぁ仕方ないかと思った次第。まことに現金で単純な性格だと自己認識（笑）。
English version⬇
The first driver's license "training course for the elderly" has been successfully completed.
The fact that people are concerned about the decline of cognitive functions due to the aging of the population is unavoidable. I would like to take a positive view of the situation by solemnly checking myself. I am very happy to have passed the first session of the "elderly driver's license" training course.
Japan is an "advanced region" with an aging society. As the percentage of the elderly population is increasing ahead of the rest of the world, Japan is being forced to undergo various "transformations. I was casually struck by an article on the top page of yahoo today headlined "Yusuke Narita: 'The elderly should commit mass suicide,' NY Times reports. It is true that this is a bit extreme, but it may be a figurative expression, and I understand that there are various opinions in society. I think the point of his opinion is an objection to the current situation in which "the elderly almost monopolize the pivotal position in society". That may be true. It is a natural opinion that the younger generation should be given more opportunities to play an active role as a strategy to maintain "vitality" in an aging society. I, too, have become an elderly person as an objective fact, and I would like to calmly accept this fact and think about the role I should play in society.
As long as there have been cases of accidents that are at least questionable in terms of physical and cognitive functions, it is only natural that we should consider how to respond to them as traffic rules. I received a postcard long in advance (more than three months ago, as I recall) with an application for a "training course for the elderly," and since I am the kind of person who likes to get that stuff out of the way quickly, I applied immediately and took the course yesterday.
Due to the snowfall in Sapporo yesterday, the roads were mostly one-lane slow in many places. The usual 20-minute journey took more than twice as long as usual, and I arrived just in time for the scheduled time.
As a result, unlike the usual license renewal procedure, we had time for practical driving skills, which we thought was quite worthwhile. The cost of the regular license renewal procedure was 2,500 yen and the cost of the senior citizen training course was 6,450 yen, which is somewhat questionable (laugh). Some say it is "a measure to promote the flow of money in an aging society," and I thought they may be right in saying so. However, when I actually took the course, I saw the results of wisdom and ingenuity in the development of machines for checkpoints useful for self-recognition, such as the "visual field angle survey," "cognitive function survey," and "nighttime cognitive function survey. The content of the course has evolved considerably compared to the conventional driver's license renewal course.
In addition, during the practical driving skills time, an instructor rides next to the student and checks him or her. This is an experience I have not had since I obtained my driver's license 50 years ago, so it was a new experience for me. It is quite difficult to share common sense when it comes to driving skills. Although strict adherence to the rules is a prerequisite, there is no opportunity to objectify the kinds of habits that have been unintentionally acquired over the years through one's own judgment. I thought it was meaningful to be able to check them with a certain sense of tension.
In the practical training, there was a snow-covered pier-like place where I drove slowly at my own discretion, and the instructor praised me for it (ahem). The instructor gave me a compliment (ahem). Since I was made to feel so good, I thought that the 6,450 yen was just as well. I am a very cash-conscious and simple person (laugh).
