Strong support on medical checkups for elderly drivers
KUCHING: Just being older does not necessarily make one a bad driver. However, in view of accidents casualties, many feel that driving licence for senior citizens need to be reviewed.
A senior government servant, Scott Liman, 57, said before imposing any restrictions on senior citizens driving, the government should do an indepth study on discontinuing issuance of driving licence for senior citizens.
“Although one may say that driving licence expires at 70, it does not automatically mean that one has to stop driving. It just means that you will need to renew your driving licence annually if you want to continue driving.
“Do in depth study first before imposing the ruling or probably do comparisons with other countries, for example Singapore where the traffic police have introduced new measures to help elderly motorists with the re-validation of their driving licence,” said Scott.
Even though he agrees that of late, casualties among senior citizens contributed to some statistics in road accidents in the country, the way forward will be renewing the driving licence on case-to-case basis.
“For example, as in the case of my brother who is driving a commercial vehicle (oil and gas company) they would have to go for medical checkups to make sure that they are fit to drive the vehicle.
“It’s the same for senior citizens, maybe do checkups once a year especially when you are 70 and above, and with that medical report they can renew their licence, maybe on yearly basis or twice a year, and medical checkups must be done by government clinics,” he said.
Apart from that, he said research on senior citizens driving must be conducted by the relevant agencies and be tabled in Parliament by the Ministry of Transport.
Self-employed Linda Dohoi, 37, from Bau said it is good for a 70-year-old senior citizen to have a medical examination before renewal of driving licence.
“Not all senior citizens in their 70s are bad drivers, some are actually still very healthy. Nevertheless, it is good for them to go for medical examination, which is for their own safety.
“Those who are not well could have eyesight problems, some have muscle problems, especially when you are already at that age.
“In fact, I have seen quite a number of senior citizens who have health issues but are still driving,” she said.
Computer accessories company staff 27-year-old Michael Khoo agrees that the government should do an in-depth study on senior citizens driving, and that senior citizens should undergo medical checkup before renewing their licence.
“Probably, learn from another country which has enforced ruling on senior citizens driving, which we can enforce here.
“However, I do agree that senior citizens should undergo medical checkups before they renew their licence. Who knows, they might have underlying health problems, therefore not fit to drive,” he said.
For businesswoman Siti Aisyah Ramli, 33, she strongly agrees with the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) recommendation to restrict issuance of driving licences to citizens aged 70 and above.
“Among the steps that can be taken to help the mobility of senior citizens is perhaps ask their children, neighbours, relatives or friends to send them to their destinations, emphasise public transport that is senior citizen-friendly and they must have IT knowledge so that they are able to book Grab Car or Maxim service to take them to their destinations,” she suggested.
She added, for a driver aged 70 and above, there are many factors that could be taken into consideration, such as level of health which decreases as one gets older.
“Most accidents involving seniors driving or riding motorcycles are usually related to the history of illness. Take for example, from a visual aspect, elderly people no longer have clear vision compared to younger people.
“Another factor could be the aspect of sensitivity to what is on the road. They tend to be error-prone and less sensitive to road conditions, especially when the road is congested,” she said.
Recently, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) was not actively planning to introduce conditions for the renewal of driving licence for elderly Malaysians.
Acryl Sani had said that Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Azisman Alias’s proposal was still at a theoretical stage and has not been thoroughly discussed.
He also said that any introduction of new safety procedures will only be done after an evaluation study and decisions on its implementation by all stakeholders.