admin
.
RESEARCH on traffic law shows that in a crash, the risk of a person aged 60 or older being killed, whether in a vehicle or on foot or bicycle, is more than double that of a younger person.
This is because older people’s bodies are more fragile, so they are more likely to suffer life-threatening and long term injuries.
They are less likely to recover from injuries or respond to emergency treatment, due to less physical strength and a greater risk of subsequent infections or other medical complications.
For Gogo Ntombizodwa Mhlanga (65) she has no qualms boarding a public service vehicle (PSV), from Bulawayo to Harare as long as the man behind the steering wheel is of a “respectable” age group.
For Gogo Mhlanga the older the driver, the better. She can even afford to take several naps in-between the 430km long trip.
Her demeanour suddenly changes, from a friendly smile to a frown, when asked if she could board the same PSV, only if it was driven by a youthful driver.
She swears she would rather “walk” to the capital city than board a PSV whose driver is anything under the age of 40 years old. In fact, the senior citizen says she finds it hard to board local kombis (commuter omnibuses) from her home in Lobengula suburb in Bulawayo into the city centre driven by 20-something-year olds.
Across town from Gogo Mhlanga’s home is a 94-year old driver — George Marambakuyana — popularly known as “Maramba” — possibly the oldest driver of a public service vehicle in the country.
The owner of two commuter omnibuses, one of which he drives, and a respected driver in the local kombi industry, Marambakuyana’s first experience behind the wheel was when he left his tribal homeland Hurungwe in Mashonaland West Province in search of greener pastures in Bulawayo where he has been resident since 1953.
To a layman not conversant with traffic laws of the country, specifically the Traffic Act, there is nothing wrong with a 94-year-old driving a public service vehicle laden with 18 passengers.
The simple answer is the nonagenarian is committing a crime by driving a public service vehicle.
Some of the most common age-related problems that may affect the safety of older drivers are eyesight which deteriorates gradually with age, hearing which begins to deteriorate slightly from age 30-40, and the rate of deterioration increases as you get older, health as drivers with certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, are at higher risk of causing crashes.
Movement is also another problem as older people often suffer joint and muscle stiffness, which may affect how easily they can turn their head and body to look round when reversing or checking blind spots.
Meanwhile, B-Metro sought the professional opinion of an optician on why it is risky, to the driver himself and passengers, for a 94-year-old to be behind the wheels of a PSV.
“Eyesight gets worse when one gets older as vision deteriorates with age and older people tend to become short sighted but, however, it doesn’t happen to everyone as some people still retain good eyesight even in old age,” said Dr Karene Manuel, an optician at John McMinn Optometrists in Bulawayo.
Dr Manuel says optometrists recommend that public service vehicles drivers retire at the age of 70 years.
“An individual’s eyesight is normally at its best before they reach the age of 70 years so we recommend public transport drivers to retire at that age. What’s worrisome is that we have fewer drivers at that age that consult optometrists for eyesight checkups except for truck drivers who are compelled by their companies to do so regularly,” said Dr Manuel.
She advises drivers in general to rest adequately before embarking on long trips
“When driving long distances rest breaks of 15 minutes every two hours are recommended. Drivers who feel their vision is deteriorating should have regular eyesight checks in addition to a healthy diet that includes green vegetables,” she added.
For the 94-year-old, quitting his job is not option. He has a family to feed and reckons when faced with either facing the wrath of the law and putting food on the table for his family, he would go with the latter.
“I have a family to feed and being a bread winner knows no age. I might be 94-years-old but consider myself a better driver than most of these young men who drive commuters in the city.
“I am very good with the steering wheel and I have never been involved in an accident. I have always been on the right side of the law, I am a law abiding driver,” said Maramba.
He plies City Centre-Mpilo (Barbourfields) route.
For all Maramba’s claims of being an excellent and law abiding driver, the law prohibits him from driving public service vehicles.
The Road Traffic Act does not permit anyone beyond the age of 70 to drive a PSV.
“I am not aware of the character but I am aware that the law (Road Traffic Act) does not permit anyone beyond 70 years to drive a public service vehicle (PSV),” said Tatenda Chinoda, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) spokesperson.
Online Reporter