As of today, the petition has 685 signatures. The petitioner, Nélson Manuel de Oliveira Ferreira, writes in the official petition: “Every unfit driver is a real risk. Every mistake can cost lives,” and “When capacity disappears, the right must end.”

The petitioner further argues that: “From the age of 75, cognitive, visual, and motor decline is an inevitable reality. Reduced reaction time, loss of perception, and impaired judgment make driving dangerously unpredictable.”

Petition rules

According to government laws under Civic Participation, petitions with more than 1,000 signatures are reviewed in committee (where more specific issues are discussed before being voted on), and petitions with more than 7,500 signatures are reviewed in plenary (where laws are discussed and voted on).

In Portugal, the current legal framework does not establish a general age limit for driving in category B, but rather revalidations and individual assessments of driving aptitude, Postal reports.

Driver’s license categories

The petition ignites the discussion of the autonomy of older citizens and general road safety. In Portugal, driver's licenses must be renewed at different times depending on when they were obtained and the specific vehicle category.

Citing gov.pt portal, Postal reports that “for Category B and the remaining categories in group 1, there is no general maximum age for driving, provided the driver meets the renewal deadlines and maintains the aptitude required by law,” and goes on to explain that “The Legal Driving License Regulations stipulate that licenses in categories D1, D1E, D, and DE cease to be valid at age 67 and cannot be renewed after that age. In category CE, however, after age 67, the license is limited to vehicles up to 20 tons.”

The petition suggests the automatic termination of the validity of the driver's license at the age of 75 but also suggests creating alternative mobility options for the elderly population. Although the petition does not detail any solutions to such options, it emphasises the need to mitigate the impact of the measure on the daily lives of older people.