Older Driver licence regime
There was a concerted effort by the editorial writers to protest about the
removal of the mandatory road test for the older driver
It would seem that those that write these diatribes ignore the fact that
New Zealand as a country was unique in testing its older drivers and
want this age discriminatory practice to continue because they wish it.
Because of pressure about the unfairness of the older driver testing regime
the three Ministers involved ( Minister for Senior Citizens ,
Minister for Transport Safety and Minister of Transport )
asked for a Transport Review Committee to investigate the
older drivers regime and come forward with recommendations .
The committee of some 17 members had three consumer representatives
, Grey Power , Age Concern and RNZRSA and the rest were drawn from the
medical and allied professions including geriatricians optometrists,
gerontologists , occupational therapists and representatives from the
medical professional organisations so that the overwhelming majority
opinion was from the medical side .
The committee was first charged with recommending to the Ministers
a course of action .
After much discussion and advice from outside experts it was determined
that there was absolutely no proof that mandatory testing of the older
driver in any way affected the road toll or the safety on the road
– in fact the charts that purported to support this view were in fact
found to be skewed .
When considering the angst that the testing produced among the elderly
and the high level of anxiety that the test caused in the driver
it was decided that the unanimous recommendation to the Ministers
was the removal of the mandatory road test and
closer look at the provisions of the medical certificate that is required.
The Ministers accepted this recommendation and their requirements have been met .
However it must be remembered that the GP issuing the certificate can
actually if unsure whether the applicant is capable of driving ,
refer the applicant to an occupational therapist
who would carry out a set of tests or
can ask that the on road test be taken so there are safeguards
for those few possible doubtful cases.
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