KUCHING: Limiting the issuance of motor vehicle licences to senior citizens is unfair as there are no statistics showing that they are prone to road accidents in the country, said Dennis Tan.
The Sarawak Gerontology and Geriatrics Society (SGGS) president further noted that most road accidents are caused by young people driving recklessly, overtaking along narrow roads, speeding or beating traffic lights or even driving while being drunk.
“We also feel that it is too much to single out senior citizens to undergo medical check-ups and get a doctor’s confirmation of their health conditions before they can be issued licences.
“We feel that suffering from health issues such as blurred vision is not a reason to stop them from renewing their licences as blurred vision can be rectified by putting on a pair of glasses, just like anyone else who has sight problems.
“If such conditions are to be imposed on senior citizens, then it should also apply equally to younger people as there are many of them having similar health issues,” he said.
He further pointed out that there is no need to impose such conditions as senior citizens know when to stop driving vehicles, like when they are having health conditions such as Azheimar’s or other serious illnesses.
“Many senior citizens, even at the age of 70 years and above, are still healthy and actively contributing to society in their own ways.
“Instead of going after senior citizens, the police should go after mentally sick persons, substance abusers and repeated traffic offenders as they are more likely to cause road accidents than senior citizens,” he said.
Recently, the Royal Malaysia Police Department (PDRM) proposed to the government to limit the issuance of motor vehicle licences to senior citizens.
According to the statement, which was quoted by Bernama, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Azisman Alias had said this was because the health of senior citizens could be a factor that contributed to road accidents.
He was reported to have said that senior citizens also needed to undergo medical check-ups and get a doctor’s approval confirming that they are fit to drive.
He claimed that as people age, they are more likely to suffer from health conditions such as Alzheimer’s and blurred vision which could indirectly cause road accidents.
