Changes coming for Seniors' Driver Licence Renewals!

Grey Power's campaign to ban GPs from using cognitive tests as a pass/fail of a senior’s ability to drive has been ongoing for some time. However, progress has been significant with great support from NZTA and various parliamentarians.

The status of the campaign and positive actions taken by NZTA are as follows:

1. Extension of Time to Apply for Licence Renewal
NZTA now allows all seniors to start the process up to 6 months prior to their qualifying birthday. This was in recognition of our advocacy demonstrating the long waits for appointments in many GP practices, as well as delays if patients were required to have other tests such as an On Road Safety Test (ORS), Optician, or Occupational Therapist. Even if the licence is gained early it is effective from the relevant qualifying birthday.

2. Recruitment of more On-Road-Safety Test Assessors
Seniors referred for an ORS often faced delays in many centres which could extend so long that a follow-up GP visit was required. More assessors have been recruited and wait times are considerably reduced. In addition, it was clarified that this practical test (usually at a VTNZ site) was free of charge for anyone 75+

3. Medical Literature Review
Grey Power had lobbied NZTA on the lack of evidence that a cognitive test was predictive of a senior’s driving ability. There was one test – the SIMMARD-MD that was created specifically for this purpose, but its reliability had been debunked around 20 years ago. Yet some medical practitioners were still utilising this test here in NZ. Other cognitive tests had become more widely used by GPs, with the Mini-ACE test being the most common currently. We could find no clinical studies showing that this test was a reliable indicator of driving ability. NZTA agreed to fund an Auckland University literature review on the predictability of cognitive tests to determine a senior’s driving ability. The draft conclusions from this study were: “Current evidence is mixed on the utility of off-road cognitive assessment for driving performance among 'healthy' older adults. Even amongst those with mild to moderate dementia, cognitive tests are poor predictors of driving ability.”

NZTA is working with MoH and College of GPs to get some clear recommendations out to GPs that includes the advice that no patient should be failed their licence renewal solely on the results of a cognitive test. These guidelines and a campaign to publicise these through communications and workshops should be available shortly.

David Marshall
Grey Power NZ President