Is Malaysia ready for an era of ageing drivers as population grows older?

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — For the past four years, Nur Husna Hassan and her siblings have worked to ensure their father can continue driving safely without sacrificing his independence.

Living in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, her 77-year-old father still drives himself to the mosque, surau, grocery shops and coffee shops as part of his daily routine.

The family is aware that due to age-related fragility, elderly drivers are more vulnerable to injuries and fatalities in road accidents.

“My father is already 77 years old and he depends on driving himself to the mosque, surau, grocery shops and coffee shops as his daily routine.

“Basically, he also doesn’t want to burden his children by asking them to drive him to nearby places unless it’s urgent.

“So I feel it is only right to make sure he remains comfortable and safe behind the wheel, even though it’s mostly around the residential area during the day,” said Nur Husna when contacted by Malay Mail.

Her family is among many urban households navigating how to support ageing parents who continue to drive.

What the numbers show

As Malaysia moves towards an ageing society, debate has resurfaced over whether senior citizens should be required to undergo medical checks when renewing their driving licences.

A series of recent accidents involving elderly drivers, some of them fatal, has renewed public attention on the issue.

These include cases ranging from an elderly driver charged over the deaths of two siblings in Klang, another detained after a fatal crash involving a motorcyclist in Petaling Jaya, and a recent incident in which a senior motorist crashed a Porsche into a shop in Penang.

According to police data, more than 19,800 elderly drivers were involved in road accidents across Malaysia between 2019 and 2024.

Of that number, 6,733 elderly road users died. On average, about nine senior citizens were involved in accidents daily, while roughly three died each day.

What the law says

Under Section 30(3) of the Road Transport Act 1987, applicants are only required to declare whether they suffer from any medical condition or physical disability that could affect their ability to drive safely.

At present, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) allows drivers aged 60 and above to renew their licences for up to 10 years, with physical licences issued free of charge.

Unlike Malaysia, which imposes no upper age limit on licence renewal, several countries have introduced age-based safeguards.

Some jurisdictions require regular medical or cognitive testing, shorter licence validity periods, or additional driving assessments for older motorists.

In Japan, drivers aged 75 and above must undergo cognitive tests and physical assessments before licence renewal. In Singapore, motorists aged 65 and above are required to undergo mandatory medical examinations every three years.

In the United Kingdom, drivers aged 70 and above must self-declare medical fitness and renew their licences every three years.

In the United States, requirements vary by state, with some imposing shorter renewal cycles, in-person renewals, vision tests or additional restrictions for elderly drivers.

Identifying the problem

Malaysia’s current regulatory framework for elderly drivers is not adequately prepared for an ageing population, said Prof Dr Muhammad Zaly Shah, president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Malaysia (CILTM).

He said Malaysia is expected to become an ageing nation by 2030, with 15 per cent or more of the population aged above 60.

“Currently, the Malaysian licensing system does not provide for mandatory medical or cognitive evaluations for private elderly motorists,” he told Malay Mail.

Muhammad Zaly, who is also director of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Research Institute for Sustainable Environment, said declining vision, slower reaction time and mild cognitive impairment are common among older drivers.

“Most elderly drivers do not report declining abilities because they fail to recognise these changes in themselves,” he said.

He cited Japan as an example of a more structured approach, where drivers over 75 who perform poorly in cognitive tests must pass a practical driving test before licence renewal.

What can be done

Veteran Malaysian motorsports figure and former national Grand Prix motorcycle racer Oh Kah Beng said a mandatory cognitive test should be introduced once drivers reach 60.

However, he stressed that not all senior citizens face health issues that affect driving ability.

“This is assuming many from this age group are less active and yet still inclined to drive,” the 73-year-old told Malay Mail.

Oh, who now runs the Most Fun Gym (MFG) motocross park in Kampung Sungai Penchala and works as an advanced driving instructor, said reflex and reaction tests should also be part of the assessment process.

He said this would mirror Japan’s approach to elderly drivers.

He also suggested mandatory vision and cardiovascular checks for senior motorists.

“With cataracts, one’s vision is severely impaired during night driving. I had my cataract removed in my mid-50s as it affected my night vision and glare from oncoming headlights,” he said.

Muhammad Zaly said Malaysia could start by introducing mandatory medical and vision screenings for drivers aged 65 and above, repeated every two to three years.

He said this should not be seen as discriminatory, but as a safety-based measure.

He added that doctors should be given a formal mechanism to report patients who may pose a road safety risk.

“At present, there is no official avenue through which physicians may report potentially impaired drivers to JPJ,” he said.

Muhammad Zaly also proposed conditional licences for seniors who are still fit to drive, such as daylight-only driving or restricted travel zones.

However, he stressed that any restrictions must be matched with improved public transport.

“Any restrictions placed on senior drivers must be accompanied by significant investments in accessible and reliable public transport,” he said.

Family support for elderly drivers

Nur Husna said supporting her father includes ensuring his car is properly maintained and serviced.

More importantly, she said she relies on her siblings to share responsibilities, including driving their father or handling errands.

As a senior driver himself, Johor-based English trainer Vincent D’Silva said the issue must be handled with sensitivity.

“It is a sensitive issue and many older people will feel hurt if society suddenly treats them as a risk simply because of their age.

“Senior citizens have contributed to this country for decades.

“They should not be humiliated at the licence counter or made to feel useless,” he said.

D’Silva said the goal should not be to stop senior citizens from driving, but to ensure those who remain fit can continue doing so safely.

“Ageing is something all of us will face. Today we may be discussing elderly drivers; tomorrow we may become one of them.

“That is why any policy must be guided by compassion, dignity and public safety,” he said.