Safe with Age

Questions and answers on licence renewal changes for older drivers

How is the way older drivers renew their licence changing?
Why do drivers still have to be medically assessed at 75, 80 and every two years after that?
What does the medical assessment involve? How long does it take and who pays?
What sort of conditions can be imposed? How does the doctor decide these?
What if the GP is concerned about a patient’s ability to drive?
If a patient is assessed by their GP as not medically fit to drive, can they get a second opinion?
What happens if their health improves later? Can they go back to their doctor to be re-assessed?
If an older driver lets their driver licence lapse, can they renew it later if they wish to begin driving again?
What if a driver drives on a lapsed licence?
Who makes the final decision about whether an older patient can drive or not?
How long is a Medical certificate for driver licence valid for driver licence renewal purposes?
How will older drivers be informed about the changes?
What does the on-road safety test involve?
If a patient is referred for an on-road safety test what do they need to do?
How much does an on-road safety test cost?
What happens if a driver fails the On-road Safety Test?
If an older person doesn’t feel comfortable driving any longer – how do they surrender their driver licence?
What other education is available to support older drivers?
What information is available for friends and families of older drivers?
If someone has concerns about an older friend or family member’s fitness to drive, what can they do?
How are GPs and being informed of the changes?
Why did the government decide to change the older driver licence renewal system?
How safe are older drivers as a group compared to other age groups?
Older driver statistics
Who was consulted on the changes?

How is the way older drivers renew their licence changing?

• From 4 December 2006 the on-road driving test will no longer be mandatory for those aged 80 and over. Drivers renewing their licence at 75, 80 and every two years after that will still need to visit their general practitioner (GP) to obtain a Medical certificate for driver licence confirming they are fit to drive.

Why do drivers still have to be medically assessed at 75, 80 and every two years after that?

• The older population is unique in that they are subject to unpredictable health and cognitive changes that may affect their ability to drive safely. Around two percent of drivers involved in serious crashes are aged 80 or over – but because of their greater frailty they’re more likely to suffer significant injuries and take longer to recover.

What does the medical assessment involve? How long does it take and who pays?

• During the appointment the GP will discuss with the patient their present state of health and any conditions which may affect their driving and test their eyesight. The appointment length may vary but could be up to half an hour if the GP is unfamiliar with the patient. The appointment is at the driver’s own expense.

What sort of conditions can be imposed? How does the doctor decide these?

• The GP can recommend conditions such as corrective lenses, time-of-day restriction, or distance restriction be applied. Guidelines for circumstances in which it may be appropriate to recommend conditions are included in Land Transport New Zealand’s Medical aspects of fitness to drive publication.

What if the GP is concerned about a patient’s ability to drive?

• Where there is a question about a patient’s medical fitness to drive, GPs can refer their patient for more specialist medical assessment such as to a gerontologist, optometrist or for an occupational therapist driving assessment.
• The results of these assessments are reported back to the GP, and assist them in completing the Medical certificate for driver licence form.
• If a patient is medically-fit but a GP has serious concerns about their ability to drive safely, GPs will have a new option to refer them for an on-road safety test.
• The diagram below summarises the new system:
  
  

If a patient is assessed by their GP as not medically fit to drive, can they get a second opinion?

• Yes, they are entitled to seek a second opinion (again, at their own expense). However they cannot renew their licence unless they receive a favourable report and Land Transport New Zealand’s medical section will take both GPs' opinions into account when making their final decision.

What happens if their health improves later? Can they go back to their doctor to be re-assessed?

• Yes, if their circumstances change, they can go back to their GP at any time to have their medical fitness to drive re-assessed.

If an older driver lets their driver licence lapse, can they renew it later if they wish to begin driving again?

• Yes, however anyone who does not renew their driver licence within five years of its expiry date will usually have to pass theory and practical tests to regain their licence.

What if a driver drives on a lapsed licence?

• If any driver allows their licence to expire but continues to drive, they will be liable for serious penalties (which may include a $400 instant fine, being forbidden to drive and vehicle impoundment for subsequent offences). They also risk having any insurance claims declined.

Who makes the final decision about whether an older patient can drive or not?

• The GP will issue a Medical certificate for driver licence. The older driver can then complete the driver licence renewal process by visiting a driver licensing agent (participating offices of the NZ AA, Vehicle Testing NZ, On-road NZ) with the following:
  
  • completed Application for renewal of driver licence form
  • evidence of identity, such as their existing photo driver licence
  • confirmation of address, such as a recent bank statement (details are on the application for renewal of driver licence' form)
  • Medical certificate for driver licence issued within the previous 60 days
  • the driver licence application renewal fee of $18.30.
  The new photo driver licence will then be sent to the mailing address supplied.

How long is a Medical certificate for driver licence valid for driver licence renewal purposes?

• The Medical certificate for driver licence must be no more than 60 days old at the time it is presented to the driver licensing agent.

How will older drivers be informed about the changes?

• Those directly affected (drivers 75 and over whose licences expire on or after 4 December) are sent the Renewing your driver licence brochure in their driver licence renewal packs.
• Land Transport New Zealand has also developed the Keeping moving guide, a free resource for older New Zealanders, which explains the new licence renewal system as well as providing advice on regular self-assessment and other ways to help maintain independence safely. A copy can also be ordered by calling 0800 822 422 or by sending address details to Keeping moving, Land Transport NZ, PO Box 2840, Wellington.
• A targeted print advertising and poster campaign aimed at raising awareness of the changes begins on 16 November 2006 and will run until early December.

What does the on-road safety test involve?

• The on-road safety test is designed to check that a driver has a good knowledge of the road rules and continues to practice safe driving skills. It takes about 30 minutes to complete and is done in a vehicle supplied by the driver.
• A brochure entitled Guide to the on-road safety test has more information – drivers can obtain a copy of this publication when they book their test.

If a patient is referred for an on-road safety test what do they need to do?

• Drivers who are referred by their GP for an on-road safety test will need to book a separate appointment to do this at a driver licensing agent (participating offices of the New Zealand AA, Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ), Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ) and On Road New Zealand).
• A brochure entitled Guide to the on-road safety test has more information – drivers can obtain a copy of this publication when they book their test.

How much does an on-road safety test cost?

• The test fee for the on-road safety test is $41.00.

What happens if a driver fails the On-road Safety Test?

• A driver may fail the on-road safety test because of a few simple mistakes or small lapses of concentration. The test fee allows the driver to re-book the test once at no extra charge, however, subsequent bookings will incur an additional fee of $41.00.

If an older person doesn’t feel comfortable driving any longer – how do they surrender their driver licence?

• Any driver wishing to surrender their driver licence should write to Business Support Services, Transport Registry Centre, Private Bag, Palmerston North clearly outlining their intention to surrender their licence, signing the letter and enclosing their driver licence.

What other education is available to support older drivers?

• Safe with Age is a road safety awareness and road rules refresher course for persons over the age of 55. The free courses are run by local groups, such as Age Concern, and coordinated by Land Transport New Zealand.
• Safe with Age courses currently reach about 5,000 people per year. $550,000 per year in new funding is being provided to enhance course content and expand Safe with Age to reach about 8,000 older drivers per year over the next three years.
• From 1 February 2007, course graduates will receive a $30 subsidy towards a one hour practical coaching and assessment drive with an approved Safe with Age driving instructor should the graduate wish to further improve their driving skills.

What information is available for friends and families of older drivers?

• Land Transport New Zealand has developed the free booklet Supporting older drivers in consultation with a range of stakeholder representatives including the NZAA, Grey Power, Age Concern, NZRSA and NZAOT.
• The booklet provides advice on helping older drivers stay independently mobile by whatever means they choose for as long as possible.

If someone has concerns about an older friend or family member’s fitness to drive, what can they do?

• Supporting older drivers provides advice on how to recognise when an older friend or family member may need to reduce or stop driving and how to approach them with any concerns about their driving.
• Copies are available from Citizens Advice Bureau or by calling the Land Transport NZ helpdesk 0800 822 422. Alternatively, the publication can be viewed online at www.landtransport.govt.nz.

How are GPs and being informed of the changes?

• The Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport New Zealand medical section have been working closely with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and other relevant health and medical sector groups to make changes to the current Medical certificate for driver licence which GPs are required to complete when providing a recommendation on a patient’s fitness to drive.
• Land Transport New Zealand has also held a series of free regional seminars for GPs in major centres and sent out regular updates and comprehensive information packs to all practices.

Why did the government decide to change the older driver licence renewal system?

• New Zealand is one of the very few countries that requires drivers aged 80 and over to undertake a mandatory on-road driving test. The UK, Western European countries, and most Australian and US states have no mandatory age-based on-road testing of older drivers. Overall, their crash statistics for older drivers are no better or worse than the general population.
• New Zealand older drivers are generally safe. Most older people drive conservatively and adequately self-regulate their driving. Older drivers are responsible for only about two percent of road casualties. This is consistent with the percentage of older drivers in the driving population.
• Many older drivers say they find taking the over 80s driving test highly stressful, while organisations like Grey Power view the test as discriminatory.
• Other reasons for removing the test are:
  
  • there is little evidence of road safety benefits from the test
  • a very high percentage of older drivers passed the older driver practical test after one or more attempt
  • a mandatory test places an unfair financial burden on older people (currently $59.30 every two years for people 80 and over who wish to re-license. Under the new system this will drop to $18.30 for those drivers who are not required to pass an on-road safety test).
  • maintaining mobility and access to the community are important values for older people. While this must be balanced against keeping our roads safe, there is no evidence that abolishing the driving test will compromise road safety.

How safe are older drivers as a group compared to other age groups?

• Older drivers as a group are relatively safe – most drive conservatively, travel fewer kilometres overall than other drivers and do not deliberately drive unsafely.
• Around two percent of drivers involved in serious crashes are aged 80 or over. However, because of their greater frailty, they are more likely to suffer significant injuries and take longer to recover.

Older driver statistics

• Older drivers involved in crashes
  
  
• Casualties from crashes
  
  • Less than three percept of all road deaths occur in crashes involving a driver aged 80 or over
  • Only about two percent of all reported road crash injuries occur in crashes involving a driver aged 80 or over.
• By comparison (the table shows the percentages of all drivers involved in crashes that fall within each age group, for fatal and injury crashes separately)
  

  	Percent of drivers of known age
  	Fatal	Injury	Fatal and Injury
  15-19	12.1%	15.1%	15.0%
  20-24	12.3%	14.4%	14.3%
  25-29	11.1%	10.2%	10.2%
  30-34	11.6%	10.7%	10.7%
  35-39	9.8%	10.1%	10.1%
  40-44	9.3%	9.6%	9.6%
  45-49	8.8%	7.8%	7.8%
  50-54	6.5%	6.2%	6.2%
  55-59	5.1%	4.7%	4.7%
  60-64	4.2%	3.6%	3.7%
  65-69	2.6%	2.5%	2.5%
  70-74	2.5%	2.0%	2.0%
  75-79	2.1%	1.6%	1.7%
  80-84	1.2%	1.0%	1.0%
  85-89	0.6%	0.5%	0.5%
  90-94	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
  95-99	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%
  Over 80	2.0%	1.6%	1.6%

Who was consulted on the changes?

• Before supporting legislation (Land Transport Driver Licensing Amendment Rule (no 2) 2006) was passed, full consultation was carried out with a range of interest groups and there were also calls for the public to make submissions. As a result, Land Transport New Zealand received 90 submissions on the public consultation draft of the Rule. Of these, the majority (77 percent) were in favour of removing mandatory on-road testing of older drivers.