Commercial Drivers May Face Stricter Health Checks

Transport Commissioner Rosanna Law on Monday said the government is considering tightening health check requirements for commercial drivers.

Law's comment came a day after the arrest of an 84-year-old taxi driver whose vehicle struck three pedestrians in Fortress Hill, leaving two of them seriously injured.

On a Commercial Radio programme, the transport commissioner said while old age does not necessarily mean poorer health, checks can reveal any underlying problems.

"Right now, commercial drivers who are aged 70 or above have to do a health check once every one to three years when they renew their licence. We are looking at whether there’s room to adjust the age or frequency requirement,” she said.

Law said the number of traffic accidents involving older motorists is not particularly higher than the number involving younger people and the government has no plan to put a cap on the age of commercial drivers.

“Not only in Hong Kong but elsewhere in the world, it’s uncommon to limit the age of drivers. There are several reasons. People can be old but healthy and strong. Driving can be a profession and some people have to drive to make ends meet,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ng Kwan-sing, who chairs the Taxi Dealers and Owners Association, urged the government to promote regular health checks for all drivers.

“It can work with trade associations or other drivers' groups to promote body checks. Underlying illnesses don’t exist only at a certain age. We all know that high blood pressure, blood glucose or blood lipid, or heart diseases are seeing younger onset,” Ng said on an RTHK programme.

DAB legislator Ben Chan said the government should consider making the mandatory health screening more comprehensive and lower the age requirement to drivers aged 65 and above.