Accidents with aged on the wheel reignite push for age-based restrictions

Two highway accidents in Hyderabad involving motorists of their 80s have renewed requires stricter checks on aged drivers, with highway security specialists warning that declining reflexes and imaginative and prescient can flip them right into a hazard on busy city roads.

On July 4, an 88-year-old man misplaced management of his sedan on the curve after the ISKCON temple, heading in the direction of YMCA in Gopalapuram. He struck a number of autos earlier than being stopped by bystanders, injuring a girl. Police booked him beneath Sections 279 and 337 of the BNS Act for rash and negligent driving.

Earlier, an 84-year-old retired IPS officer, who served as inspector common of police earlier than retiring in 2000, fatally ran over a category IX scholar on the Ramakrishnapuram flyover close to Neredmet. The boy died on the spot, prompting criticism from activists over why he was nonetheless permitted to drive.

Under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act, there isn’t any most age restrict for driving. However, these over 50 should submit a medical health certificates for licence renewal, legitimate for 5 years. Road security specialists say this method fails to account for fast modifications in well being amongst these of their 70s and 80s.

“Elderly folks driving on roads have develop into hazardous for different highway customers as their imaginative and prescient and muscle energy are usually not sufficient to attempt on Indian roads and we do not need that infrastructure,” says. Vinod Okay. Kanumala, founder & chief functionary, Indian Federation of Road Safety.

“Many accidents are happening however are ignored due to their age. At this age, previous individuals are very impolite if one thing occurs on the highway. I’ve personally skilled it. This must be addressed on the earliest, as pace and visitors quantity have elevated. The most age restrict must be 70 or 75, after which the licence have to be cancelled,” he provides.

A Road Transport Authority official, talking anonymously, known as overage driving a blind spot in enforcement. “In cities like Hyderabad, we routinely encounter aged drivers navigating chaotic visitors with restricted reflexes and declining eyesight,” the official stated.

While international locations such because the United Kingdom and Japan require older drivers to bear common cognitive and imaginative and prescient checks, in India, the accountability is basically left to drivers and their households.

“We are usually not saying senior residents mustn’t drive,” says Praveen Kumar, a highway security knowledgeable from Hyderabad. “But there have to be stricter recurring checks for these above 75.”

Police stated the autos in each Hyderabad accidents have been correctly registered and the drivers held legitimate licences. With India’s ageing inhabitants rising, specialists say solely a mixture of tighter guidelines, common testing and public consciousness can forestall extra tragedies.