The case in summary: Leiv Larsen (89) has driven a bus for 60 years, the last 15 years without passengers. This is because the upper age limit for bus drivers in Norway is 75. NHO Transport has asked for a change, but the Ministry of Transport has refused the request. The rationale is, among other things, about increased risk with older drivers. In Sweden and Denmark there is no upper age limit for driving a bus. According to the industry organizations there, no more accidents involving older drivers have been registered. Leiv Larsen is still employed at Tide Buss, but now only drives empty buses. It’s a new day of work for 89-year-old Leiv P. Larsen at Tide Bus’ facility in the island municipality of Bømlo. A bus must be moved approximately 30 kilometres. Over three bridges, to the neighboring municipality of Stord at the workshop. – I think it’s fantastic. I have wonderful work colleagues who treat me the same as everyone else, says Leiv P. Larsen, or “Leifen” as most people call him. – Misses people He has driven a bus for 60 years. Without accident. The last 15 years without passengers. In Norway, the upper age limit for driving a bus with passengers is 75. As early as 2009, Larsen therefore had to get used to driving alone on trips. Now he drives buses to and from the workshop, to the washroom, and otherwise drives where there are no passengers. – I miss having people with me. I’m outgoing, that’s why I’m a bus driver. So I think it’s a bit stupid, he says. The trip between Bømlo and the neighboring municipality of Stord is the favorite of 89-year-old Leiv Larsen, or “Leifen” as most people know him. Photo: Olav Røli / news NHO: Many are sad when they have to quit Until 2009, the upper age limit for driving a bus with passengers was 70. This year it was raised to 75 years. And so it will be in the future. NHO Transport last asked the Ministry of Transport and Communications in 2021 to raise the limit. The reason was that many bus drivers had both the health and desire to continue driving after the age of 75. Today alone, there is a need for 600 bus drivers in Norway. Figures from NHO Transport show that every fourth bus driver in Norway has passed the age of 60. Many are therefore well on their way into retirement, without new ones coming on board. – Many people are upset when they have to park the bus at the age of 75, especially those who are used to driving tour buses. I have received many phone calls from older bus drivers who thrive in the service profession, says Jofri Lunde, business policy manager at NHO Transport. Figures from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration also show that elderly people with the “bus sticker” are growing strongly. Ministry of Transport: Too big a risk with older drivers But the answer from the ministry was negative. They based it, among other things, on a thorough analysis from both the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. The risk is too great with older drivers, they said. State Secretary Tom Kalås in the Ministry of Transport and Communications refers to the National Action Plan for road traffic safety 2022–2025. It finds that the risk of being killed or seriously injured increases markedly for road users aged 75 and over. – There are various reasons for the increased risk, but aging reduces certain skills, such as concentration, observation and processing of information, which are necessary in traffic, he believes. Here you can read the entire response from the ministry: This is how the Ministry of Transport and Communications responds: “The basis for the upper age limit for bus driving seats is traffic safety, both out of consideration for passengers and other road users. In the National Action Plan for road traffic safety 2022-2025, it appears that the risk of being killed or seriously injured is markedly increasing for road users aged 75 and over – both as drivers and as pedestrians. There are various reasons for the increased risk, but aging reduces certain skills, such as concentration, observation and processing of information, which are necessary in traffic. In addition, older people tolerate the physical stresses of accidents worse than younger people, and accidents where the elderly are involved therefore more often have a serious outcome. Age is also linked to an increased risk of poor health. Professional driving by bus normally involves a high annual driving distance and time on the road, in part a large potential for damage in the event of an accident and equal responsibility for paying passengers. This means that particularly strict requirements must be set for these drivers. Due to the risk of rapidly deteriorating health conditions, the Ministry of Transport and Communications has assessed that even annual renewal of a health certificate will not be sufficient after the age of 75.” Tom Kalsås (Ap), State Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications. Can drive for a long time in Sweden and Denmark But both in Sweden and Denmark there are different rules. Here there is no upper age limit for driving a bus, if you meet the conditions. This is confirmed by the sister organizations of NHO Transport in the neighboring countries, Dansk Persontransport and Sveriges Bussföreta. – We have many examples of drivers who are well over 75 years old. In Denmark, 60 percent of bus drivers are over 55, and we are very happy to attract seniors to the industry, says Michael Nielsen, CEO of Dansk Persontransport. Neither Nielsen nor Anna Grönlund, industry manager at Sveriges Bussföretagam, have figures on how many drivers over 75 they have. – Are there more accidents involving older drivers? – The answer is no, replies Grönlund. – We have no one in statistics that shows that they are involved in more accidents, says Nielsen. You can apply for a dispensation from the age requirement at the police, but in practice no one has been granted this in either 2022 or 2023. Bus driver Svend Halvor Andreassen is attracting attention among bus passengers with his good humor. Recently renewed the driver’s license Stig Louis Myklevold, area manager for Tide Buss, is very happy to have the 89-year-old Larsen as his assistant. – “Leifen” is a contributor, both socially and at work. When they have to stop driving buses after 75 years, it is good that they can be involved further, he says. – What do you think about the age limit? – There is a time for everything, but there could be a more individual assessment of the health of the elderly, says Myklevold. Every Friday there are waffles in the drivers’ break room in Hollundsdalen in Bømlo. Then both area managers Stig Louis Myklevold and Leiv Larsen are involved. Photo: Olav Røli / news In the break room, the 89-year-old shows off his recently renewed driver’s license. It has almost all the letters you can get. – The doctor told me. You are in such good physical condition, Leiv, that I have to give you all the certificates, he says. news has asked all the parties in the Storting what they think about the age limit for bus driving. Here is what they answered: William Jobling / news Frank Sve (Frp), transport policy spokesman – If you want to continue working, there should be no upper age limit. For bus drivers, a thorough health check must of course be in place. Physical and mental health is very individual and there are many fit 75-year-olds who still have a lot to contribute. Norway has a major shortage of bus drivers, and society should take advantage of those zealots who love their job. Storting André N. Skjelstad, transport policy spokesman Venstre – As long as the driver is healthy, does not have major heart problems or vision problems, then it should be fine if they are allowed to drive longer. But there must be more frequent health checks after the age of 75. Cecilie Victoria Jensen Liv Kari Eskeland, transport and communications committee (H): – Right is for a work line. And the last time the age limit for bus drivers was raised was in 2009. Now 15 years have passed, and maybe it’s time to look at this again. There is a huge need for bus drivers, and I think it is wrong to exclude people on the basis of age, and not health. Dan Robert Larsen Geir Jørgensen, transport policy spokesperson (R): – In recent years, Raudt has received a number of messages from older bus drivers who are frustrated. It may seem that the practice around exemptions from the age limit is excessively strict. Even if there are to be exceptions, the possibility must be real. The information I have received from the government, that no one was accepted either in 2022 or 2023, indicates that it no longer is. Moment Studio / news Jofri Lunde, Business Policy Manager NHO Transport – Senior bus drivers are a very valuable resource. They stay in the profession and thrive behind the wheel. On a national basis, every fourth bus driver has passed the age of 60, and many continue as substitutes and on-call substitutes. Even after they have turned 70. I take the fact that so many wish to continue driving for so long after retirement age as an image that this is a profession you can thrive in. Center Party Ragne B. Lysaker / news Geir Iversen (Sp) , the transport committee at the Storting In the big picture, we believe that traffic safety must come first, as any accidents have a very high potential for damage. The professional assessments that lie behind the current regulations, with an upper limit of 75 years, should therefore be fixed. At the same time, one should consider extend the home for dispensation “in special circumstances”, with the condition of a thorough assessment of the individual’s customs.Bernt Sønvinsen (Ap), political advisor – It is fantastic that the driver at Bømlo is still working, and that the company has made arrangements. This should be a source of inspiration for many. There has been much debate about a health certificate for all car drivers over the age of 80. This is because I live longer and am healthier. Some believe this is a form of discrimination against the elderly. But this problem doesn’t go away just by moving the age limit to 85 years old. There will still be people with good eyesight and good hearing who will think that the health requirement is unfair. – Always look forward to life The first letter in the certificate was given to Leiv Larsen in Oslo in the 1950s. At that time, the first roundabout in Norway, the Sinsen junction, had to give way from the right inside the roundabout. It created chaos, wrote Nordre Aker Budstikke. Later there have been many tours, both in Norway and the rest of Europe. Both with regular bus and tour bus. – What is the recipe for such an old age? – They must always look forward to life. Many have also asked me how I dare to drive down in Europe. Then I reply that many others have done it before me. And it has gone very well, he replies. – Do you have any advice for young people who want to become bus drivers? – It is an exciting profession. No day is the same. But it’s a lifestyle, with shared working hours and work at weekends, he replies. Hello! Do you have thoughts after reading this case, or would you like to advise us about similar or other cases? Send me an email. Published 25.06.2024, at 17.24
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