The story of the tragic death of a six-year-old girl killed by an older driver at a Nambour Shopping Centre touched many across Australia. Now the child’s grandmother has pleaded with the Government over laws for older drivers.
Sandy Bampton, now 58, watched her granddaughter, Indie Armstrong, reversed into and killed a year ago by 86 year old Miriam Grace Paton.
Sally is petitioning the Queensland Government to change the laws around older drivers (aged over 75) which would require a regular medical assessment in order to retain their license.
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The Courier-Mail reported that Since the incident Sandy has been campaigning along with Indie’s parents for tougher laws for elderly drivers – with hopes to see every person across the country undertake a driving and written test yearly once they reach 75 years of age to ensure they are safe on the road.
“This needs to be taken away from the doctors and be run by the Transport Department, the same place you get your licence,” Sandy told The Courier-Mail. “This will ensure everyone would be tested fairly.”
As the grandmother pleads with government she stated that “life has never been the same” since the accident and her comments come months after the driver of the car that hit Indie and her family, Miriam Grace Paton, passed away.
Tragedy potentially claimed the life of the older driver
Miriam Paton’s husband Stuart told the Courier-Mail in November, she was wracked with guilt until her last moments after accidentally killing the young girl.
“I’ve killed a child and I don’t want to live anymore,” were her final words to Stuart before she passed away, the Courier Mail reported.
“She was heartbroken, she could not bear the thought of having caused the little girl’s death. She wanted to die.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? SHOULD MEDICAL CHECKS FOR OLDER DRIVERS BE MANDATORY?
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