‘Limit driving licence issuance to senior citizens’

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysia Police has proposed that the government limit the issuance of Motor Vehicle Licences to senior citizens.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Deputy Comm Datuk Azisman Alias ​​said this is because the health condition of senior citizens could contribute to road accidents.He said that senior citizens should also undergo a medical check-up and get approval from a doctor to ascertain that they are fit to drive.

“Elderly people are more likely to suffer from health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and blurred vision, which can indirectly cause a road accident.

“There was a case where a senior citizen was caught driving on a motorcycle lane. The government needs to look into this issue,” he told a press conference at Bukit Aman yesterday.

He said it is not suitable for senior citizens aged 70 and above to renew their driving licence for a five-year period due to the age factor.

He also suggested that the government make it a policy for low- powered motorcycles not to produce excessive noise.

“This is needed because some of the owners have modified the exhaust without following the set specifications,” he added.

He said motorcycle accidents were still the major contributor to traffic fatalities at 70% or 2,075 deaths from January to August this year. — Bernama