Malaysians Against Rape, Assault and Snatch Theft founder Dave Avran said the recent incident where a 76-year-old drove on the wrong lane on the New Pantai Expressway is a wake up call.
“I feel it is high time to introduce compulsory checks every six months to ensure public safety.
As far as I know there are no local laws stopping anyone from driving when they reach a certain age.
He said having good eyesight should be included as a criteria.
“A normal person should be able to see a minimum distance of 23m. A driver, regardless of age, must also be able to see the traffic lights well,” he said.
Astigmatism, which causes blurry or distorted vision, he said, was also a concern. He added that good hearing and having good reflexes was also necessary for drivers.
“The medical checks should also take into account the alertness levels of drivers. Drivers must not pose a danger to other road users,” he said.
Avran said medical checks would provide some peace of mind for drivers above the age of 65 and their loved ones, while other road users would feel safe as well.
A viral video last week shows an elderly man driving towards oncoming traffic near Taman Dato Harun. Other motorists can be heard in the video shouting at the man who then drives even faster.
NPE patrol personnel are seen attempting to get the man to stop but he ignores them.
The video ends with patrol personnel successfully stopping the vehicle, while shouting and knocking on the window on the driver’s side. Police have said that the man was suffering from dementia and hearing problems.
