A horrific event occurred in Wantirna South, a suburb of Melbourne, on Thursday. A 91-year-old driver mowed down a group of elderly pedestrians on a footpath with no ability to stop, causing tragic consequences. The collision occurred during the first week of the Victorian school holidays. This time of year is typically full of family-friendly events, educational trips, and big summertime fun. The vehicle exited the road onto the sidewalk and quickly traveled approximately 40-50 meters. Tragically, it then collided with pedestrians, resulting in a tragic human toll.
The crash burst a tire on their bus and killed the 59-year-old woman driver on the scene. A 60-year-old man was critically injured and was taken to the hospital. Sadly, he passed away from his injuries on Saturday. A two-year-old boy was critically injured in the crash. Thankfully, by the end of the week, with proper medical treatment, his health seemed to stabilize.
This tragic occurrence has brought Victoria’s road toll to a staggering 14 deaths in only a week. Now, more than ever, residents are concerned about the state of roadway safety. The tragic incident has sparked new discussions on the competency of senior drivers. This is particularly pertinent considering Victoria currently lacks any form of driving safety requirement by age. State law currently requires drivers 75 and older to renew their licenses every three years. This renewal process is extremely different from one state or territory to the next within Australia.
In New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory drivers over 75 years old need health assessments. This makes sure that they are physically and mentally prepared to operate their vehicles safely. South Australia requires older drivers to take self-assessments. In comparison, Australia’s Western Australia only requires that drivers who are renewing their licenses at the ages of 80 years and older pass an annual medical exam.
The tragic death resulting from this incident has understandably caused great alarm. Now the state government finds itself reversing its initial position of supporting tougher restrictions for senior drivers, forcing them to demonstrate their ability to safely operate a vehicle. Advocates for safer streets contend that these types of actions are necessary to prevent future tragedies from occurring.
The community continues to mourn the loss of life and stands in support of those injured in this senseless attack. In the background, concerns about policies for older drivers and roadway design linger. Families and loved ones of the victims face an arduous path in processing this tragedy while contemplating what changes might be necessary to ensure safer roads for everyone.
