South Australian elderly drivers to face tougher tests to prove competence behind wheels ON THE ROAD: Guido Sarapuu, pictured with his wife Helve, is still driving at 87. ALMOST 40 elderly drivers are being banned from the roads each week after failing their annual vision and medical assessment. And the number of people aged over 70 banned from the road will likely continue to rise as the population ages and a new assessment form for doctors to use is introduced from next Monday. Transport Department figures obtained by The Advertiser show that 2016 motorists aged 70 or above had their licence suspended in 2012-13 for a medical reason or for not returning a Certificate of Fitness. TELL US: Will this solve problems on our roads? That figure was up more than 30 per cent on the 1541 in the previous year and 1416 in 2010-11. Council on the Ageing executive director SA Ian Yates said starting fitness to drive certificates at the age of 70 was "absurd." It's a common saying that 70 is the new 50. Many people are still in the workforce at the age of 70," he said. We just think that the testing starts far too early. In addition to those banned from driving, 816 drivers aged 70 or above had a condition placed on their licence last financial year, up from 645 in 2011-12 and 381 in 2010-11. There are about 117,000 licence holders aged 70 or above in South Australia. Once licence holders turn 70 they are required to take an annual vision and medical test to assess their ability to drive. A Certificate of Fitness is sent to the licence holder six weeks before the due date. If a form is not recorded six weeks after the due date a reminder letter is sent and if the form is not recorded after a further three weeks their licence is suspended. Road Safety Minister Michael O'Brien said the new assessment form was more detailed and comprehensive. "A minority of medical professionals have in the past provided insufficient information when assessing a patients' fitness to drive," he said. Under the current system, medical professionals are required to submit the current medical form or write a letter indicating their patient's fitness to drive. The new form includes a comprehensive patient questionnaire and examination report to inform the registrar that proper examinations have been conducted and that relevant medical conditions have been identified in accordance with the new national Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines. The new form also clearly outlines the legal responsibly of the medical professional to ensure the information they provide about their patient is accurate and complete. The form is not a legal requirement but medical professionals are strongly encouraged to use it to ensure the sufficient information is provided. A Transport Department spokeswoman said the department did not expect a spike in licence cancellations with the introduction of the new form. "DPTI expects the new form to streamline the process for drivers, rather than increase the number of suspensions," she said. The new form is tailored to the national Assessing Fitness to Drive Guidelines, allowing more complete information to be returned, with a simpler process for doctors, reducing the need for follow-up. As the population continues to age it is likely that the number of suspensions could therefore also increase, however, continuing advances in medical knowledge could provide the ability for many people to retain their competency to drive for longer. Mr Yates said that the ageing population would naturally force more licence cancellations. "Not only because they are failing tests but because they are volunteering to give up their licence with a great deal of reluctance," he said. Mr Yates said transport for older people who no longer drove would become an increasing issue for the State Government. "Public transport is not adequate for our ageing population," he said. In particular, a lot of retirement living has been built in outer areas because that's where you can get cheap land but that becomes an issue in terms of public transport. Motor Accident Commission chief executive Jerome Maguire encouraged friends and family of older drivers to ensure their loved ones had regular checks. "It is critical that all drivers are medically fit to drive," he said. We want everyone to enjoy the freedom that comes with a licence but at the same time we need to create the safest possible environment on our roads for everyone. Family members should be proactive in ensuring the safety of their loved ones on the road, especially if they have a condition that may hinder their driving abilities. Family members are in the best position to convince elderly relatives to go for a regular medical assessment and check on the important physical abilities required for driving. Older road users have proved particularly vulnerable on the roads this year. Seventeen of the 74 people to die on the state's roads this year have been aged 70 or above "As people age they generally adapt well to any loss or reduction in sensory abilities, such as vision and hearing," Mr Maguire said. However, increasing age may affect peoples' physical fragility, perception of and response to hazards and their ability to recover from injury. Guido Sarapuu has hardly stepped out of line in almost 60 years of driving on South Australian roads. From his first Holden in 1956 to his current Commodore, none have been involved in anything more than a minor bingle and the traffic misdemeanours have been few and far between. "I think I got one speeding ticket years and years ago - maybe 33 or 34 years ago," Mr Sarapuu, 87, said. Mr Sarapuu, of Happy Valley, said staying on the roads as he aged had come naturally for him., "As long as you have good health and stay fairly active, I think driving comes naturally," he said.