SHE SAYS...

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32037, 11 July 1969, Page 9

SHE SAYS...

The number of road deaths has become quite an important statistic in our national life, but just how much research is being done on the causes of these accidents? We often read of the results of an accident, but we rarely read how or why it occurred.

I wonder what is the state of health of some of the drivers involved in accidents? Statistics do not seem to tell us this. Our vehicles are checked every six months for a warrant of fitness, but not our drivers. To obtain a driver’s licence the only health test made is an eye test, and a person has to have rather bad eyesight to fail it, so I am told. After that, there is no other medical check until the age of 50—after this one .must have another eye test evdry five years. Presumably a driver can be an alcoholic, a drug addict.

having psychiatric treatment and still hold a valid drivinj licence. Comparisons are not alway fair, but I cannot help bu compare this situation wit! that accepted as right an< proper by private pilots. Ti retain their licences, privati pilots must undergo thorougl medical checks regularlyevery two years, I believe Drivers who hold a competi tion licence for racing mus undergo a medical test even year. I think all drivers woul< agree that even a simple coh or a severe headache cai affect their driving very badl; —how much worse it could bi with a serious illness oi disease. A sneeze can cause i crash; many “one-car” acci dents are in fact suicides, w< are told—yet how little w< really seem to know of the re lationship between road acci dents and mental and physi cal health.