Durban - You could be 200 years old and still be allowed to zip around the city in your car – as long as you are deemed fit to be behind the wheel.
That was the official word from Durban metro police when asked if there was a cut-off age for motorists being allowed to drive.
Metro police spokesman senior superintendent Eugene Msomi explained: “With the five-year licence renewal policy, traffic authorities at the licensing department are able to ascertain which drivers should discontinue driving.
“So even if you are 100 or 200 years old, your licence will be renewed as long as you’re still fit to be on the road,” he said, adding that there had been instances where younger drivers had had their licences revoked because their eyesight or heath had deteriorated.
“We can’t deprive somebody of driving just because of their age, even though they are a good driver.”
103 NOT OUT
Msomi’s comments come after recent media reports about a 103-year-old London grandmother who is still driving, despite not having a licence.
Eileen Ash, a former England cricketer who has lived to see 22 prime ministers and four monarchs, started driving before driving tests were introduced.
Independent on Saturday