Drivers support requiring a medical examination for those over 70 years old to obtain a license

An opinion poll, conducted by “Emirates Today” on its account on the social networking site “Twitter”, which included 3,000 people, showed that about 73% of the drivers polled support requiring people over the age of 70 to undergo a comprehensive medical examination, as a condition for obtaining a driving license. This is supported by medical opinion, because this group is exposed to diseases that affect the level of driving safety, at a time when this group is granted driving licenses according to the same conditions followed for the age groups. The other.

Statistics issued by the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai showed that three people up to the age of 90 obtained driving licenses during the past two years, and that the number of those who obtained driving licenses in the age group over 65 years reached 318 people during the years 2017 and 2018.

In answer to a question from “Emirates Today” about the extent of the risk of driving for the elderly, about 42% of the respondents said that the extent of the risk depends on the health condition of the driver, while 39% saw that driving people aged 70 years and over constitutes a safety risk. Traffic.

Dubai Roads confirmed that driving licenses for the aforementioned age group are granted in accordance with the conditions applied to the rest of the age groups, without requiring them to undergo specific tests or examinations that reveal their health status and the extent of their mental and physical suitability for driving.

For her part, family medicine specialist, Dr. Rola Al-Badri, confirmed to “Emirates Al-Youm” that there are many diseases that are directly related to aging, and that the probability of contracting them doubles year after year, stressing that it is natural to grant all age groups the right to obtain A driving licence, but ensuring the fitness and health of the person applying for the licence, does not negate this right.

She added that the average lifespan of a person has increased in recent years, and that at the same time it is possible for a person to be afflicted with any type of disease at the age of 30 or after 40, but there is a scientific fact that says that the possibility of contracting diseases doubles with age, especially after the age of 65. years, as most of them suffer from high blood pressure and “diabetes” at that age, and she said that having high blood pressure and “diabetes” doubles the chances of a person being exposed to sudden death or suffering from heart or strokes. Which makes driving a vehicle a kind of risk when contracting these diseases.

She added that people who use insulin because they have diabetes have the possibility of a sudden drop in their blood sugar, and thus loss of consciousness, which poses a great danger while driving, threatening their lives and the lives of others.

She explained that this forced some countries to impose a requirement for submitting a comprehensive medical examination for anyone who wants to obtain a driver’s license and is over 70 years old. The competent authorities in those countries also notify those who have reached the age of 70 and have a driver’s license, to remind them of the necessity of renewing the driver’s license and submitting A medical report proving their health fitness and ability to drive safely.

She stressed that people who suffer from chronic diseases, including blood sugar that is treated with insulin, and severe damage resulting from a clot in the brain, should be required to undergo a periodic medical examination to ensure the stability of their conditions, and those who are exposed to a stroke should be prohibited from driving for at least three months.

Al-Badri considered it useful for individuals’ health records to be linked to the drivers’ licensing system, to prevent all people with a chronic disease from being allowed to drive, regardless of age group, pointing out that it is possible for any person to be exposed to a disease that threatens driving safety regardless of his or her age.

In addition, it was not possible to obtain a response from the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, to a question about the reasons that justify not requiring this age group to undergo a comprehensive medical examination to ensure that it is free of diseases.

Procedures to be followed to be able to drive

The information published on the UAE government portal page indicates that the procedures followed to be able to drive vehicles include:

– Open a traffic file at a driving school, conduct a visual examination at one of the centers approved by the competent authorities, complete all the required driving training classes, and pass the tests determined by the competent authority.