Medical checks for commercial drivers to tighten over ageing workforce

The government plans to tighten the screws on medical examination requirements for commercial vehicles drivers in July.

This as the government reveals the number of cabbies aged over 65 has doubled over the past ten years.

In August, a taxi allegedly lost control and killed a pedestrian -- a Filipino tourist.

Another fatal accident last month involving an elderly taxi driver in Ngau Tau Kok claimed the lives of two female passers-by.

To address that, the government aims to present enhanced proposals to the Legislative Council in July to tighten the age threshold for commercial vehicle drivers to submit medical examination certificates to the age of 65 and amend the validity period of their driving licences, which will be subject to an annual medical check-up.

At the Legislative Council, lawmakers today sought clarity over how authorities will ensure objective medical assessment standards.

LIU CHUN-SAN, Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics (Voice of Translator): "Now, we have a register of medical examiners. We also provide guidelines so that medical examiners have standards to follow."

ALAN CHAN CHUNG-YEE, LegCo Member (Election Committee) (Voice of Translator): "Aged drivers have long working hours so that they are exhausted. However, the younger generations are not willing to join the trade. Does the administration have any assessment of the manpower shortage?"

LIU CHUN-SAN, Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics (Voice of Translator): "In 2015, there were 17% of drivers aged 65 plus. However, this year, the figure jumped to 34% which was a huge jump. We need to face this situation squarely."

Measures to woo younger drivers to join the trade include enhanced training programmes, streamlined written exams and more recruitment initiatives by operators.