The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has announced new changes to the driving licence application and renewal process for motorists who are 60 years and above.
Speaking on Thursday, December 18, during an interview on Radio Generation, NTSA’s Manager for Road Safety Programmes, Samuel Musumba, said that motorists who are 60 years and above will be henceforth required to renew their driving licence every year.
According to Musumba, no driver who has hit the 60-year age threshold would be allowed to renew their driving licence for the current three-year period.
"Within the new curriculum for drivers, once you hit 60 years, you will be required to renew your licence every year and not every three years," Musumba stated.
As part of the licence renewal process, the said drivers would also be required to submit their medical assessment report to the Authority before approval is granted.
The NTSA boss explained that the above requirement was not meant to interfere with the privacy of an individual's personal health matters but to ensure overall safety on the roads.
"As you renew every year, we will be asking you for a medical report. It is not about knowing what you are going through, but it will be a report just like any other," said the NTSA boss.
"We will be looking at this from a safety point of view. We will advise you and say that now that you are 60 years old, avoid speed, and plan your journey early," he added.
The update is part of the proposals by NTSA for the long-term road safety measures. It is, however, yet to be forwarded to parliament for enactment.
Parliament approval is necessary for the proposal to become a law that would eventually apply to all drivers who reach the said age. It must also undergo public participation.
Currently, all drivers, regardless of age, renew their driving licence after every three years without any mandatory requirement for a medical assessment report.
NTSA has since maintained that the changes are necessary as part of the broader reforms under the new driver curriculum, which prioritises the safety of the ageing drivers and their passengers.
