Transport Malta has engaged the service of a doctor to update the medical assessment that is carried out before a person is declared fit to drive, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

The transport watchdog took this action a few days after Times of Malta revealed how an 83-year-old man involved in a hit-and-run incident in Lija almost a fortnight ago claimed he did not realise he had crashed into a car until he watched CCTV footage.

The man was on his way to a doctor’s appointment in his Rover saloon when he crashed into a parked car as he was driving through the narrow Annibale Preca Street in Lija.

The dramatic car crash, captured on CCTV footage, prompted a discussion on whether the elderly should face stiffer driving licence standards.

A spokeswoman for the Transport Ministry said that initiatives were taken to improve the way people are declared medically fit to drive a vehicle.

It is up to the police to decide whether to proceed with criminal charges

The spokeswoman said Transport Malta had engaged the doctor to work on a set of guidelines along with the Medical Association of Malta and other professionals with a view of updating the standard of the medical examination that is carried out before a person is declared as fit to drive, in accordance with international legislation. “Transport Malta remains committed to improve the overall regulatory framework for driver education,” she said. She also pointed out that Motor Vehicles (Driving Licence) Regulations already stipulated that drivers over the age of 70 are to be certified fit to drive by a doctor every five years before they renew their driving licence.

In reply to a question on whether Transport Malta was looking into withdrawing the licence of the 83-year old involved in the incident, the spokeswoman said Transport Malta cannot arbitrarily take any action to withdraw his licence simply because of his age or because of the nature of the accident.

“It is up to the police to decide whether to proceed with criminal charges and then it is up to the courts to decide on any further action depending on the outcome of the proceedings.”