Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed that only senior citizens with a record of traffic offences involving health issues should get a medical check-up to ensure they are fit to own a driving licence.
This was in contrast to a proposal by Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Azisman Alias to have senior citizens undergo a medical check-up in order to reduce the number of car accidents.
"If you really want a compulsory medical check-up, it should be conducted with a non-complicated approach. Don't bother our senior citizens with various procedures that will burden them.
"Perhaps (we can) come up with a mechanism to identify senior citizens who need to undergo screening. For example, look out for the traffic offence record which involves health factors.
"In this way, senior citizens who are really at risk of having an accident due to health factors are prohibited from driving," Zahid (above) said in a statement yesterday.
The Bagan Datuk MP agreed with Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong who stressed that revoking an elderly motorist's licence should be a last resort.
"Wee said elderly drivers display greater competence in driving compared with their younger peers. Not only that, they are more prudent and careful on the road," Zahid said, adding that commonly family members will prohibit the elderly from driving if there are concerns.
The former deputy prime minister also pointed out that there are many other factors of road accidents that deserve more attention, including reckless driving as well as driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani had dismissed Azisman's proposal as a personal suggestion.
Wee said removing a licence just because of age would be discriminatory and ageing motorists should instead have their fitness on the road tested. - Mkini
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