NRMA Director Graham Blight made a suggestion before Christmas that senior drivers place ‘S Plates’ on their cars to distinguish them in the fashion of ‘P Plates’. He aired this suggestion at a Combined Pensioner and Superannuants Association meeting to gauge the reaction off the crowd. Needless to say, the almost-deaders were not pleased.

I noticed a story in The Sun Herald recently and became quite frustrated at the reaction. They had conducted a vox pop in the community to see what people think of this notion. Of course the survey group is tiny and certainly not representative of the general public, however the reasons people were giving for disagreeing with the idea were RIDICULOUS! Here is a sample of what makes me dig my nails into my own skin to make the pain of their stupidity disappear for a little while:

“I just don’t think it’s right to pick them out. I think a senior driver’s a better driver than a young person”. Vince Cantone, 48

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s discriminatory against the senior generation. They’ve been driving a lot of years”. Caroline Whitmore, 46

“I think it’s bad because we’re putting a label on these people. It’s hard enough being old let alone being a senior and having a label put on the car”. Sister (yes, a nun) Angela Jurinic, 44

“That’s absolutely disgraceful. There’s nothing wrong with older people’s driving. They have fewer accidents. We’re the ones with the experience”. Peter Rae, 61

“I’m sorry! How insulting! I think I drive as well as any youngster. I think, certainly if they have accidents, things have to change. But I drive pretty well”. Shirley Gottlieb, 72

There were limited people who applied some brain power before answering instead of simply becoming defensive and stupid.

“It’s probably a good idea. Working in the health system I see quite a few of the elderly and I can see that sometimes they are quite impaired”. Ralph Annetta, 46

“I do think that’s a good idea, mainly because people can be cautious and understand if they’re driving slowly…and leave a leeway for them”. Joanna Ke, 22

I don’t even know where to begin with this rant. I will try really, really hard not to become outraged and incoherent, but I am warning all readers, there is the chance I will lose it and this will truly become the etchings of a crazy lady.

I guess I should first address, in true essay style, the above quoted comments.

The issue of senior drivers has been given a fairly large amount of attention recently, particularly by the RTA, the NRMA and the government. Of course, the media hasn’t been quite as attentive because, lets face it, old people crashes are not as glamorous as young people crashes. They don’t sell as many papers. Scare-mongering is the most viable way to gain visibility and it is just easier to blame the ills of the driving world on the young. My point is that this debate has veered away from the important stuff and become a black and white ‘young versus old’ title fight. Instead of giving a good reason why older drivers should not have ‘S Plates’ most resort to saying that older drivers are better than younger drivers, and they have more experience. Vincey says it perfectly by missing the point entirely (“I think a senior driver’s a better driver than a young person”). Mmmmhmmm. And? Oh, you didn’t have a decent argument so you just pulled a ridiculous one out of your ass? Good work Vince. Real clever. It is fairly obvious to all that you are a typical baby boomer and you know your time as an oldie is fast approaching. In true baby boomer fashion, you want everything your way. It isn’t enough that you have fucked the environment and soon the economy. You have to run over some people because you are too damn stubborn to wear a plate distinguishing you. This argument is fervently backed up by Peter Rae (“There’s nothing wrong with older people’s driving. They have fewer accidents. We’re the ones with the experience”). It once again floats in the realm of ‘young versus old’ as a ridiculous notion. Yes Peter, I understand that you have experience. I also understand that you have fewer (loosely applied) accidents statistically compared to young drivers. So we should just ignore the fact that you still have an absolute butt-load of accidents? Ignore the fact that your senses are diminishing and all the experience in the world isn’t going to save you from crashing into something because you had a seizure? Mmmm, seems plausible….

Shirley is an interesting character (“I’m sorry! How insulting! I think I drive as well as any youngster. I think, certainly if they have accidents, things have to change. But I drive pretty well”). Her photograph, use of grammar and the fact that she lives in Potts Point all suggest a fairly well-to-do lady. She appears to have quite a lot of pride and seems quite insulted by the suggestion she place ’S Plates’ on her vehicle. She puts forward the point that she can drive as well as any youngster. I am not doubting this (trust me, she looked bloody alert and kinda scary) however how long do we wait? Shirley suggests that if they have accidents changes must be made. Do we wait until the accidents occur? Do we wait until people are injured, maimed and killed? This sounds a little melodramatic, yet it is ultimately what a lot of people opposed to restricting older drivers are suggesting.

In the worst argument possible, Sister Angela manages to prove the point of people backing ‘S Plates’ (“I think it’s bad because we’re putting a label on these people. It’s hard enough being old let alone being a senior and having a label put on the car”). Yes, being old is hard Sister. It is hard because seniors are losing what humans take for granted- their senses, their movement, their freedom and their individuality. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule- those crazy people that live to 100 while still running marathons. I am sure these people would feel a little hard done by (I know their pain- I am an under-25 driver who has never had an at fault accident, yet I have to pay quite the insurance sum). However the human body generally begins to give up. This happens in stages, and it cannot be pinpointed how one body will be affected compared to another. Ageing is cruel and non-discriminatory. The argument that we cannot put a label on these people is not solid. The idea is to point out senior drivers to allow people to give them space and patience. Just as with ‘L platers’ and ‘P platers’ this would signify that they need a little more time to carry out the driving function. It allows seniors the freedom of driving and allows others to apply understanding in their interactions with older drivers on the road.

The current system enforces the rule that all drivers aged over 80 must undergo an annual medical test by a GP to confirm they are physically able to drive safely, and all drivers aged over 85 sit an annual driving test with an RTA examiner at no cost to the driver. I like this. I would even suggest that perhaps the age should be lowered to approximately 70. The RTA has put a proposal forward that there be medical testing for all drivers aged over 75, which is a start in the right direction. Yet they have also suggested a policy that would alter rules for over 85 drivers. The new idea is that they be given a provisional licence that would allow them to drive within a certain radius (approximately 10km of the home) without being tested for this licence. Anybody who wishes to travel further afield must sit a test. The RTA notes that “this option would give drivers a choice when they reach 85; be issued with a local licence and remain mobile, or sit a test to drive more widely and unestricted…for many older drivers, being able to get to the local shops, doctor and place of worship is critical and the local licence would give them a hassle-free option to stay mobile which does not require an annual test”.

This scares the bejeesus out of me. How does restricting the driver to a 10km radius stop them from losing their ability to sense danger and obstacles? Just because they are driving near their home does not mean they are suddenly incapable of having/causing accidents. Need I remind people of Sophie Delezio? In 2003 she suffered burns to most of her body and lost both feet, some fingers and her right ear as a result of her child care centre being hit by a car. The driver, 68 year old Donald John McNeall, had suffered a seizure resulting in his loss of control. Then, in 2006, Sophie was struck by a car at a pedestrian crossing near her home and thrown 18 metres. This time she endured a broken jaw and shoulder bone, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung. The driver was 80 year old John George Sharman. He was suspended from driving for a year. That means he is now driving again. he is over 80, and until he is 85 he does not have to sit a driving test. It just seems horrendously wrong to me. 

One can understand that older people face the difficulty of losing their independence, and this loss can be devastating. We all know the stories of seniors breaking a hip or having a turn, and hence their independence wanes significantly. One may not believe it, but I have the deepest respect for older people. They have lived through some of the craziest times, and they have so many important and vital tales to tell. In many ways, they are not given the respect they deserve. I can see the reason why they may feel discriminated against. Yet this is not the case with ‘S Plates’. They are not there to say “older driver, commence road rage”. They would be used to allow older people autonomy and a continuance of the lifestyle they have become accustomed to in their countless years of ruling the roadways.

I believe that ‘S Plates’ are a darn good idea. There needs to be an overhaul of the senior licensing system, and it is heartening to see that the RTA is taking notice. Yet the new proposal is not right. Here’s hoping it doesn’t get passed. This is not an old versus young debate that so many people like to be involved in. This is about road safety, a concept that has been drummed into younger drivers from the moment they attended primary school. It is time older people were re-educated and understand that this is not a discrimanatory practice-merely an attempt to lower the death rate on the road.