The government may be required to enforce an age limit for drivers that operate commercial vehicles. This comes in light of a recent decision by insurance companies to no longer provide coverage for commercial vehicle drivers over the age of 65.
According to The Sun, Deputy Transport minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi indicated that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) may have to review the issuance of the Goods Drivers Licence (GDL) and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence to elderly drivers.
“It looks like we have to synchronise the regulation for commercial vehicle drivers due to the latest policy by the insurance industry,” he said. However, Aziz stated that the Transport Ministry will meet with Bank Negara Malaysia and various insurance players to come to a consensus on the issue, with the aim of extending the age coverage for commercial vehicle drivers.
Warranty W.4CV, which deals with the age limits for drivers of commercial vehicles outlined by Malaysian Motor Insurance Pool (MMIP), says that “only drivers whose age is between 21 and 65 years on the driver’s last birthday shall be permitted to drive the insured vehicle.” It is yet unknown when the policy came into effect, but it is believed that insurance companies have been applying it since 2014.
Established in 1992, and is a special-purpose entity set up and owned collectively by all general insurance companies operating in Malaysia. Its primary aim is to provide motor insurance coverage to vehicles which may be considered ‘high risk’ and which will not be underwritten by any single insurance company.
The Sun said the issue came to prominence when a 73-year-old lorry driver, Liew Kon Yew, discovered he was not covered under the company’s insurance policy after getting involved in a road accident in Kajang with an MPV two years ago. An experienced driver, Liew has had clean records of more than 40 years driving many different types of lorries.
Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners Association commercial affairs officer Lam Kok Wai chimed in on the issue, stating that industry players were caught by surprise with the policy. “We admit that we didn’t read all the clauses in the insurance policy as drivers above 65 had been getting coverage,” he said.
“Mr Liew passed the medical test every year as he was deemed to be in good health with excellent physical attributes. So it is puzzling that the MMIP is getting ahead of the government,” said Lam, who added that the real yardstick of able and healthy drivers is the annual renewal of GDL with RTD.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Lorry Association general-secretary Alvin Choong said the MMIP’s decision to renounce liability when it comes to elderly commercial vehicle drivers is setting a bad precedent.
He deliberated that “to perceive that elderly drivers cognitive skill as weak is the responsibilities of the government. In doing so, driver over age 65 should not be able to renew their GDL, right?” He also suggested that the next best solution is to impose a slight surcharge on insurance premiums.
Malaysian School Bus Association Alliance president Mohd Rofiq Mohd Yusof also urged the authorities to put into consideration the livelihoods of nearly 10,000 drivers across the industry (taxi, lorry and bus operators). He said that many of them above 65 are government retirees and the operators of school buses and taxis. “They are safe and careful drivers. Why single them out? We are talking about their livelihood.”
Should commercial vehicle drivers over 65 years of age be denied insurance coverage? Or should they not be allowed to operate commercial vehicles altogether? What are your thoughts on the matter?
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Beta baru je beli X lama. mcm maner yer..
http://paultan.org/2015/10/15/sultan-of-johors-customised-mack-truck-unveiled-in-brisbane-its-the-most-expensive-ever/
the only thing they good at is driving commercial vehicle..
Not just the driver. The BUS itself needs to have age limit. 10 years max and SCRAP it!
Tax exemption for buses please and PROTON shut the hell up. Buses are not in competition with your dying business.
Normal passenger buses DO HAVE 10 year limit before they need to convert to Bas Sekolah which is valid for another 10 years. Then after that can convert to Bas Pekerja to ferry Bangla for 10 more years. Thats the limit
Really? Cause i still see my old school bus which is now driven by his son and its been 30+ years too!
Possibly you see is same no plate. Cuz bus permit for school bus is 20 years max. If ur bus is with air-cond (not those sliding windows) is definitely less than 20 years old.
Same bus. During my time, no such thing as aircon bus.
I would like to add to the suggestion by installing and enforcing speed limiter to all commercial vehicles, especially buses and public transport vehicles. A top speed of 130kmh is reasonable I suppose for these vehicles.
regardless of age of drivers (20 years or 100 years old, etc)……everything is USELESS if the enforcement sucks….
The govt and authorities of malaysia, sucks big time, all the time, when it comes to enforcement…
Sadly, it is true. Truly sad.
Do you need Gov to aim ur little bro when u take a piss? no right? so why do we need Gov to tell us to FOLLOW THE RULES?
Good news.
Thank you, Najib. Sincerely.
lower the prices laaa, then it would makes more sense to have age limit
We are still operating like 3rd world countries even though the target to be developed nation is just a few years to go. Simply do not have the economics power and attitude to function as a developed nation.
now we have china truck also..
how long can they last?
depending on age itself is not a fair judgement.
good inspection, and enforcement to repair should be considered.
Enforcing age limit is good. world survey concluded age 60 above not qualify to drive such a machine.
But by enforcing this, due to lack of Malaysian like this job, we might seeing Bangla or Nepalese drive the lorry, tractor or excavator. Time will come and tell
School bus must not over 25years! its whole structure will become soft after years of oxidation, brakes pumps, lines and the calipers/drums itself already weared out too long…. i don’t trust puspakom inspection report which can be easily certified by a new paint job! i suggest to minimise direct impact to school bus fees, Gov should allow school bus owner to waive/rebate/claim their future bus purchase of Tax & Duties same amount of whats previously paid for and only pay the access amount.
* our future generations is in these school buses….