There are currently no plans to place a limit on the age of Malaysian drivers, transport minister Anthony Loke has said, reported The Star, and the transport minister acknowledged that there had been calls in the past for an age limit to be imposed on drivers in order to prevent accidents.
Asked to comment on a road safety study conducted by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) which found that 30% of drivers above the age of 60 were still actively driving on roads, Loke said that while age is a factor, there are other reasons against imposing a cut-off limit on the age of eligibility for driving.
“Tun Dr Mahathir is 99 [years old] and he still drives. Even my father still drives,” the transport minister said. Loke added that it would be difficult to impose a driving ban on senior citizens, especially if they live in rural areas, or if they need to be mobile during emergencies.
Previously in 2021, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) had proposed for special conditions be imposed to limit the issuance of driving licences to senior citizens, including the requirement of undergoing a doctor’s examination to ensure they are healthy to drive.
Shortly thereafter, then-transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong quashed claims of any such imposition being planned, saying that a driver’s competence should not be judged solely on age.
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Can you at least make these old folks go for health checks before renewing their licenses? Most of them are slow to react and can’t perform proper evasive maneuvers to avoid accidents. Some of them have heart problems and if they suffer an attack on the wheel, the collateral damage on innocent pedestrians and other road users is unimaginable.
wait till one of those ministers or their families get hit by old people then they will start to take action.
The main issue is this: Why so many underaged kids/teenagers are allowed to “roam free” on our roads.
Have u seen teens 10 to 14 roaming our tamans helmetless at breakneck rempit speed?
Have u folks forgotten about the 6year old kindy kid Vios crasher?
No need introduce fresh laws.Just go to any sekolah each morning…dad with wife and son on a single bike all helmetless.
Enforcement is clearly lacking.To put it simply,once accidents like the Genting bus happens due to unlicenced driver with 27 summons,then all the hoohaa and damage control starts…by then 2 China tourists died.
I may not agree to impose age limit as if there are emergency, the driver is able to get to the destination for faster response. However, there should be a retest for aged driver whether they are still competent and safe to drive on the roads. Aged drivers can be a risk to other drivers as well.
Ah Wee, the proposal does not refer to age limit alone. It refers to state of health to drive when buy insurance. Ah Wee completely missed the point.
We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just look across the Causeway and follow SG’s requirement for those above 65 to re-validate their license (every 3 years) with a medical checkup to prove that they at least can see something 25m away and also to be able to tell red/amber/green apart (kind of important don’t you think?) amongst other physical tests.
Man especially are reluctant to see a doctor and won’t admit that their sight/health is failing. Might actually save them from a medical emergency.
Mike Tee,
make sure you have enough money for all the senior citizens… they going to come after you!!