NETIZENS are basically on a collision course with a recent proposal by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Song which insinuated that senior citizens aged 70 and above should voluntarily surrender their driving licenses if they deem themselves unfit to drive anymore.
This is despite the sole MCA lawmaker acknowledging that many drivers “far over age 70 are displaying greater competence in driving compared to their younger peers”.
“Road safety issues involving senior citizen drivers are also faced by most of the world’s community,” Wee pointed out. “However, withdrawing or restricting their legal license should be the last option once they have proven to have no ability to drive.”
For the record, Section 30 of the Road Transport Act 1987 sets responsibility for drivers/license holders to voluntarily submit their driving licenses when having unsatisfactory health levels to the point that their driving can endanger other road users.
Netizen Karen Lee highlighted in Wee’s Facebook comment section that most senior citizens only drive within their neighbourhood to buy their necessities.
“And they often drive at slow speed … not all children live with their parents what more the younger generation need to earn a living outside,” she justified but not without dropping a bombshell on Wee for bringing up the issue.
“Do you need to suddenly come out with all the unwanted issues that caused so many people to feel angry or give chance for people to create more fake information? Unnecessary negative emotion. I have never written any negative comment about you even though I’m not happy with your contribution but this time, I really have to.”
Ahmad Fairuz questioned why the minister failed to emphasise on drunken drivers who have caused numerous fatal accidents by knocking down other innocent road users.
“Many of the culprits are not people in their 70s … these people should be hanged for their misdeeds.”
Napsiah Wan Salleh pointed to the involvement of those in the 20-40 age group in fatal accidents.
“There was this case of a local footballer whose reckless driving resulted in his car knocking a road divider, thus causing the death of his own child, mother-in-law and an Indonesian house maid.”
However, netizen Ooi Khir Tong came to Wee’s defense by clarifying that the whole idea stemmed from the higher authority of the Bukit Aman Traffic Police division.
“We nevertheless have to respect the Road Transport Act 1987 which stipulates that the Road Transport Department has the right to withdraw a person’s driving license without issuing any reason.” – Sept 27, 2021
