KUALA LUMPUR – Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong today cited nonagenarian Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a clear example of how some senior citizens are better behind the wheel than younger drivers.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Wee noted reports proposing restrictions on the issuance of driving licences to the elderly, but said there must not be any discrimination against them.
He stressed that the ministry has never issued a directive for those aged above 70 to return their licences.
“The competency level of every driver is different. Like Langkawi (Dr Mahathir), he can drive far better than ‘orang-orang gila’ (reckless drivers) on the road.
“We must not discriminate against drivers who are above 70 years old. This is not the ministry’s stand, and we don’t intend to change (this policy),” he said, adding that many other factors also contribute to traffic accidents.
Dr Mahathir has been in the news on multiple occasions in recent years after he took to driving on his own, including to and from official events.
In August 2019, he drove Indonesian President Joko Widodo in a Proton Persona to lunch. In January the same year, he drove a Proton Iriz to attend a programme in Putrajaya.
On Friday, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Datuk Azisman Alias proposed that the government limit the issuance of driving licences to elderly folk, saying their health condition could lead to crashes.
He said seniors should also undergo a medical check-up and get approval from a doctor to ascertain that they are fit to drive.
Wee dismissed speculation that the government is in the midst of introducing a new policy that will force senior citizens to surrender their licences.
On a separate matter, he said this year alone, the country recorded a staggering 807 accidents involving motorists driving against traffic flow.
Of this figure, he said, 29 led to deaths, severe injuries (17) and minor injuries (49), and the remainder only saw damage to the vehicles involved.
Wee said there were a total of 2,560 fatal road accidents between January and July, of which 11 involved motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. – The Vibes, September 28, 2021
