Backing for rights of older motorists | Manawatu-Wanganui News | Local News in Manawatu-Wanganui

Claims that the Government should make it harder for elderly drivers to be on our roads have been challenged by a local road safety co-ordinator.

Clive Matthew-Wilson, who promotes himself as an "leading road safety expert" and editor of the dogandlemon.com website, made his comments after two elderly women were killed after driving the wrong way down a highway north of Hamilton on Tuesday.

But Glenda Leitao, Horizons Regional Council road safety co-ordinator, dismissed those claims as a sweeping generalisation.

Ms Leitao, who often works with programmes designed specifically for the elderly, said there were already enough checks in place to ensure those aged drivers had a right to remain behind the wheel.

"If you have been assessed by your doctor and he or she says it's okay for you to keep driving then that's fine," Ms Leitao said.

"And if the aged driver isn't checking themselves then there's sure to be a family member who might have some issues to address that."

Mr Matthew-Wilson said that, after teenage males, old people were one of the highest risk groups on our roads. His solution was for Government to organise alternative transport systems to cater for the elderly.

"Clearly, there are a number of old people who are no longer able to drive safely. They should be kept off our roads.

"However, it's not simply a question of banning old people from driving. The Government needs to give elderly people alternatives to using cars otherwise these terrible accidents will continue," Mr Matthew-Wilson said.

But Ms Leitao said the idea of being more restrictive on elderly drivers would be extremely difficult to police.

"And who establishes what's too old to be driving anyway?"

She said elderly people were always keen to retain some independence, and having that sort of mobility was important to them.

Ms Leitao said most elderly drivers had regular routes they followed, and not all of them did a lot of highway motoring.

"Many have set travel plans, and those routes will only take them to and from the doctor's or the shopping centre."

She said ensuring older people were able to keep driving and were safe behind the wheel was the reason behind the programmes run by the regional council and Age Concern such as the CarFit programme and Senior Drive. Drivers turning 75 can renew their licence for only two to five years.