Newslink May

More documents

Recommendations

Info

02 NEWSLINK n MAY 2021
For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com Fitness to drive: it doesn’t just have to be aimed at our older generation Colin Lilly Editor, Newslink In early April there were some alarming headlines in the media relating to older drivers, with suggestions that they could be subject to restrictions on where, when and how far they could drive. The discussions between the DVLA and Driving Mobility focused on drivers over 70 with certain medical conditions, with the suggestion that they could face restrictions on their driving, including the times when they are allowed to drive and how far from home they could travel. This would be recorded by a tracker fitted to their vehicle. Medical conditions that were rumoured to provoke such interventions included epilepsy, insulin-controlled diabetes, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Though this may sound draconian there are benefits to the driver. When renewing their licences after 70, drivers currently have to make a health declaration about their medical fitness to drive. Many motorists fear that by declaring medical conditions they may lose their licences and freedom to drive. This scheme could have advantages in that the se drivers could continue to drive based on limits. I can see this will provoke some concerns among other drivers. Depending on their condition, drivers may be restricted to driving during daylight or a distance of 20 to 30 miles from home. By having trackers or black boxes fitted any worrying changes on their driving could be detected. This, in effect, would be a system of graduated licencing. Why restrict this to the over 70s? Health can deteriorate at any age before 70. You may well be identifying aspects of your pupils’ driving that reveal eyesight issues or any factors that suggest unidentified autistic traits. Instead of targeting older drivers there must be an atmosphere of trust between drivers and the DVLA so that there is honest declaration of health conditions. It has been estimated that 30 per cent of drivers over 70 with notifiable health conditions fail to do so. Among these there are probably some who fail to notify but are self-limiting to their abilities. The Department for Transport has said it has no plans to introduce a graduated system and instead is relying on the fact that it is the law that certain medical conditions have to be declared if someone’s driving may possibly be affected. The subject of older drivers is constantly being raised, as has periodic assessment of drivers. At some point a government has to bite the bullet and introduce a scheme where drivers must be held accountable for their own fitness to drive. Periodic renewal of licences with evidence of suitability to hold a driving licence is the way to ensure a fair, non-discriminatory way of ensuring the drivers on our roads are fit to be there. CONTACT To comment on this article or any other issue surrounding driver training and testing, contact Colin via editor@msagb.com Good to be back? We’re interested to know how life has been for you and your pupils as we all get back to lessons and testing. Contact Newslink’s editor, Colin Lilly, with your stories of how you’re fared, via editor@msagb.com Let’s hope this lockdown was the last! Welcome to your digital, interactive Newslink See a pale blue box in any article or on an advert? It it contains a web address or email, it’s interactive. Just click and it will take you to the appropriate web page or email so you can find more details easier. You’ll also find these panels across the magazine: just click for more information on any given subject. To get the full story, click here How to access this magazine You can read Newslink in three ways: Go online and read the interactive magazine on the Yumpu website; or, if you would like to read it when you don’t have a mobile signal or WiFi, you can download the magazine to your tablet, PC or phone to read at your leisure. Alternatively, a pdf can be found on the MSA GB website, at www.msagb.com Follow the link MSA GB sends you to access Newslink, and then just click Download to save a copy on your device COVER STORY Inside: ADI Tom Harrington offers a comprehensive look at the debate around smart motorways and implications of losing the hard shoulder: Pg 24 NEWSLINK n MAY 2021 03
Page 1: msagb.com Newslink The Voice of MSA
Page 5 and 6: For all the latest news, see www.ms
Page 8 and 9: News DVSA CEO update as it’s all
Page 10 and 11: News NASP to have say in Safe Drivi
Page 12: News Caught on camera: DVSA issues
Page 17 and 18: NEWSLINK n MAY 2021 17
Page 43: For all the latest news, see www.ms

Newslink May

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?