What’s more, lawyer Bala Mahesan has never had an accident in his life.

It’s no wonder that he’s riled up over the federal traffic police chief’s recent proposal to impose limits on the issuance of driving licences to people older than 60.

Today is World Older Persons Day and Bala has come to the defence of older drivers.

He told FMT he had been driving for 59 years and had driven on “almost every inch of road on the peninsula” without getting into any accident.

He still has his first Malayan driving licence, the red book issued to him on Feb 22, 1962, by the Batu Road Registrar and Inspector of Motor Vehicles. He was then 17.

Citing from his 48-year experience as a lawyer handling mostly traffic accidents, he said most cases involved those below the age of 60. This was because youngsters had careless attitudes, he said.

His father, the late TS Mahesan, was a chief driving instructor and inspector in the Federated Malayan States Volunteer Reserve, and Bala said it was from him that he got the best training any driver could get.

He had months of guidance from his strict father in the compound of their home at Jalan Abdullah, Bangsar, in their 1947 Chevrolet.

Bala, who moved from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh and later to Penang, said he had owned more than five cars and had always practised the driving style his father taught him.

“My father taught me anticipatory driving. That means you are always on the alert for what other drivers are likely to do next and keep a safe distance from them.”

Another senior citizen, Jagjit Singh Sidhu, 80, also said age did not matter in driving. What mattered, he said, was the way one drove and the attitudes one carried to the road.

Jagjit, also a lawyer, told FMT he had experienced driving from his practice in Penang to Putrajaya in the morning and returned in the evening, all without much effort.

“If I feel tired, I’ll take a break. By following the law, you can remain safe. It is the way you drive that matters, not your age.”

Retired teacher KM Nambiar, 81, said most people would become more careful on the road as they got older to avoid accidents caused by rash young drivers.

Apparently, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 95, is one such person. He has been commended by the transport minister for his safe driving.

Nambiar disagrees that there should be an age cap for driving, but he said eye tests should be carried out periodically.

Last week, federal traffic chief Azisman Alias proposed that senior citizens undergo a medical check-up as part of a fitness test to reduce accidents. He said 17% of accidents involving road deaths were caused by older citizens.

The inspector-general of police said afterwards that Azisman was stating his own opinion and not the view of the department.

Requiring older drivers to be tested is not new. Singapore requires people above 65 to go for medical tests at least two months before they renew their driving licences.

Many western countries also have stricter or more frequent tests for older drivers than for those below 60.