Two people died in a serious crash on the M80 expressway near Rönök on Friday afternoon. The tragedy has once again raised questions over whether Hungary’s current medical fitness checks are sufficient for elderly drivers.

Fatal crash on the M80

Two motorists lost their lives in Friday’s crash near Rönök in Vas County. According to information reported by RTL, one of the vehicles was driven by a 90-year-old man, who may have caused the accident.

Reports say the Audi, driven by the 90-year-old man and travelling towards Szentgotthárd, first made contact with a Hungarian-registered Fiat motorhome. The Audi’s front-left wheel was damaged in the collision, after which the car crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on with a Hyundai travelling behind the motorhome.

The Hyundai eventually came to a stop against the guardrail. Both the driver of the Audi and the driver of the Hyundai suffered fatal injuries, while the occupants of the motorhome were reportedly unharmed.

“One person was trapped in each of the two vehicles. They were freed using hydraulic rescue equipment, lifted from the vehicles and handed over to paramedics by professional firefighters from Körmend and Szentgotthárd,” Hungary’s disaster management authority said.

The exact circumstances of the crash are still being investigated. The case, however, has revived a long-running debate in Hungary over how authorities should determine whether elderly motorists are still fit to drive safely.

Drivers over 70 undergo medical checks every two years

In Hungary, the required medical fitness checks become more frequent with age. Drivers over 60 must renew their medical clearance every three years, while those over 70 are required to do so every two years.

Dr Péter Torzsa, head of the Department of Family Medicine at Semmelweis University, told RTL that these examinations are not merely administrative formalities.

Doctors may check a patient’s blood pressure, eyesight and hearing, while laboratory tests and ECG examinations can also be ordered when necessary. Chronic conditions that could affect a person’s ability to drive safely are also taken into account.

Torzsa stressed that doctors carry significant responsibility from a road-safety perspective. If a patient has serious problems with their eyesight or hearing, for example, continuing to drive could pose a danger and medical clearance should not be granted.

At the same time, he argued that age alone should not automatically disqualify someone from driving. According to Torzsa, there are people in their 90s who remain healthy enough to operate a vehicle safely.

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Could virtual reality improve driving fitness tests?

Road-safety expert Károly Lovas, however, believes Hungary’s current system could be modernised.

He told RTL that newer technologies could provide a more objective picture of how elderly drivers react to unexpected or difficult traffic situations.

One possible method would be the use of virtual reality. Simulated traffic scenarios could test reaction times, attention and a driver’s ability to recognise and respond to potential hazards.

The Rönök crash has therefore brought renewed attention not only to the circumstances of the fatal accident itself, but also to the wider question of how elderly motorists should be assessed.

The debate does not necessarily point towards introducing a fixed upper age limit for driving. Instead, experts have focused on whether medical and cognitive assessments could be made more precise and better adapted to the abilities required for safe driving.

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Cover image: RTL Híradó / screenshot