The regulation, recently introduced by NTSA, requiring drivers to renew their driving licences yearly upon reaching the age of 60, has been roundly castigated by an umbrella body of retired high school principals.
Speaking during an online meeting, the enraged retirees called the requirement discriminatory, outrageous, disrespectful, and an illustration of judgment unworthy of a public body charged with making rational decisions.
“How can anybody worthy of such a position even think of such a regulation?” a member, Mr Demesi, talking from Eldoret, wondered.
“Before such a decision was reached, did they have a rationale? Can they produce any data showing that these elders are the cause of road carnage in this country?
Do they have medical facts to justify their outrageous action? In the absence of such mitigating factors, the decision of this body portrays idleness, and must be resisted.”
The meeting observed that older drivers were the most careful on our roads. They are slow and overtake very carefully. Being accused of carelessness by reason of superannuation was thus baseless.
“I can use myself as a case study, if I may call it that,” said Mr Pondi, contributing from Nyamira, “I can aver unequivocally that I try to be the epitome of care on the road. Where would I be rushing to that would make me drive carelessly and endanger other road users?
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“If I have to move from Kisii to Kisumu, for example, I normally spare eight hours. Racing is something I have never cherished.”
The body requested that NTSA conduct a survey to determine whether the many accidents occurring are age-related. Such information should be made public to resolve all doubts immediately.
Otherwise, it would be concluded that this was a bout of armchair speculation, which must be reconsidered.
“Let them do public participation,” said Mrs Judith Aria, speaking from Kakamega.
“I would suggest to them to come to the ground and meet us, the victims. We will give them ideas which they will find very useful, instead of them coming up with decisions affecting us which we feel reek of autocratic diktat.”
They urged other organisations representing retirees to oppose this move strongly. They warned NTSA that it would face court action if it didn’t rescind this draconian decision.
By C. O. Okoth
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