You don’t have to be elderly to drive badly

I REFER to the article “Pressing problems of older drivers” (The Star, Feb 27). I am of the opinion that not all elderly drivers are the same.

Several years ago, my business partner and I decided to drive to Kota Baru from Kuala Lumpur via the Gua Musang highway. At that time, he was in his early 40s and I was 66 years old.

He was supposed to drive the whole distance but after about 100km, he asked me to take over. I drove all the way to Kota Baru and back to Kuala Lumpur as well.

Those with bad eyesight and have health problems, including mental illness, should be restrained from driving to prevent harm to themselves and other road users.

My wife and I are in our 70s and we have to drive ourselves as our children are not with us. We need to drive to do our errands because we do not have good pubic transport in our housing area. Unlike the writer, we are not financially capable of using Grab or taxis all the time.

I am still able to drive long distances but I only do so during the day. I make stops at regular intervals to refresh myself when driving for long distances.

In Singapore, senior citizens do not need to own a car because the public transport system there is efficient.

In Australia, elderly people who live alone can ask for help to take them to do their errands. The service is free. Such services are unfortunately not available in Malaysia.

For years, I have been advising people to adopt a healthy lifestyle so that they can be independent in old age. I plan to move into an old folks home when I feel that I am incapable of looking after myself.

So please don’t impose conditions that will burden the elderly, as many of them are already finding it hard to make ends meet in view of the high cost of living.