RTA Plans to Make Health Declaration A Must

RTA is going to make it mandatory, both professional and non-professional, to declare their health condition at the time of license procurement and renewal.

The plan could be implemented at the federal level if approved. Ahmed Behroozian, The Roads and Transports Authority’s (RTA) head of licensing, said, “This is to ensure road safety for both the drivers and pedestrians.”

“Most probably the new licensing requirements will only be for people in a certain age category,” Behroozian said. Those implanted with cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, those with a history of alcohol or drug dependence, and those who have undergone major surgery will also need to make the declaration. Eye test reports are already a licensing requirement by the RTA.

“The drawback in such forms is that a person could be dishonest in expressing his condition,” said Sanders. “And compulsory medical tests can deprive many people of their licenses.”

A better solution, he said, would be to conduct regular driving assessments and also regulate medical centres and specialists by asking them to refer people with special conditions to the licensing authority.

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