Safeguards for elderly drivers
I REFER to the report “Grandma, 80, injured in road rage attack”
( The Star, Sept 4). It was reported that Chan Tee Neo suffered a swollen left eye, bleeding nose and abrasion on her left hand after a minor car accident at 1.30pm last Saturday in Melaka.
Madam Chan claimed that the other driver, a male in his 30s, had hit her car, become aggressive and started to assault her. She also alleged that the driver hit her outside the Banda Hilir police station after a verbal spat and violently dragged her inside. Her son was quoted saying that his mother is an independent woman and despite her age, she still drives and manages the family business.
I have several observations to share about this incident.
It’s definitely wrong for a male to assault a female no matter what the circumstances or provocation.
It’s also definitely wrong for a young man in his 30s to hit a lady old enough to be his grandmother.
If it’s true that he physically hit her and dragged her into the police station as alleged, why was there no action from the policemen on duty?
Another pertinent question: Is it safe for an 80-year-old to be driving around alone?
While I do not claim to have any legal training or knowledge, my concern here is the safety aspect for both the elderly driver as well as others on the road.
As far as I am aware, there is no law in Malaysia prohibiting anyone from driving when he or she reaches a certain age.
Therefore, a person can indeed continue to drive for as long as he or she feels competent enough to do so.
Some Malaysian motor insurance companies do impose a driver’s age limit of 65 years, with an excess rider ranging from RM1,000 to RM3,000 for accident damage. Similarly, some car rental companies also have a cut-off age of 65 for potential hirers.
Of course, common sense dictates that certain criteria have to be met. The first is eyesight. A normal person should be able to see a minimum distance of 23m. A driver, regardless of age, must also be able to see the traffic lights well.
One concern pertaining to eyesight is astigmatism, which causes vision for both near and far objects to appear blurry or distorted. This usually occurs during night driving. Therefore, drivers suffering from astigmatism are always advised against driving at night. Driving during the day, however, would still be all right.
The second criterion which qualifies a person to drive is hearing. To drive safely, a person should be able to hear vehicles approaching from the rear, police and ambulance sirens, cars honking and so forth.
The third is good reflexes. Again, regardless of age, good reflexes especially of the arms and legs are extremely important. Is the footwork still capable of applying brakes fast in emergency situations? Are the hands arthritis-free and capable of quick reflexes and changing gears?
In short, a driver no matter what his/her age must have the capacity to be alert when he or she is driving. For an elderly person, driving in today’s stressful conditions can be rather straining and tiring.
Finally, a person who wishes to drive should be able to remember roads and places well. He/she should also not pose any problem to other road users.
If people can take all of these in their stride, then there is no reason for him/her to quit driving.
However, I recommend that drivers above the age of 65 be required to undergo a simple medical test to determine their driving fitness and proficiency every six months. This will ensure peace of mind for themselves, their loved ones won’t have to constantly worry about them, and other road users would feel safe too.