Grey Power welcomes fairer approach to Senior Driver Assessments

Grey Power New Zealand has welcomed new guidance that confirms routine cognitive testing should no longer be used as a standard part of assessing the fitness of healthy older people to drive.

National President David Marshall said the changes were the result of more than two years of sustained advocacy by Grey Power with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), politicians, and the medical profession.

"This is an excellent outcome for older New Zealanders and one that Grey Power has worked hard to achieve," Mr Marshall said.

"For too long, many older drivers have been subjected to routine cognitive tests despite there being little evidence that these tests accurately measure a person's ability to drive safely."

The new guidance follows an independent review by the University of Auckland, which found that for older people who are physically and mentally healthy, the available evidence does not support the routine use of cognitive assessments as part of fitness-to-drive evaluations.

Instead, doctors are being encouraged to take a more holistic approach, considering a person's overall health, medical history, vision, physical abilities and, where necessary, using an on-road driving assessment to determine whether they remain safe behind the wheel.

"This is a much fairer and more evidence-based approach," Mr Marshall said.

"Driving is vital to the independence, well-being and social connection of many older New Zealanders. Decisions about whether someone is fit to drive should be based on their overall ability, not on a single screening test."

The new key messages for health practitioners were developed jointly by NZTA, the Ministry of Health, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Office for Seniors.

Grey Power is encouraging members to continue using their regular GP or nurse practitioner for licence renewals wherever possible, as they are most likely to have a good understanding of their health history.

Mr Marshall said Grey Power hoped the new guidance would lead to greater consistency across the country.

"We expect this will provide reassurance for many older drivers and result in a fairer assessment process, regardless of where they live."

However, he said Grey Power wanted to hear from members who continued to experience routine cognitive testing without a clear clinical reason.

"If members are still being required to undertake mandatory cognitive testing simply because of their age, we encourage them to let Grey Power know. Monitoring how these guidelines are implemented will help ensure they are being applied consistently."

Mr Marshall said Grey Power remained committed to supporting a licensing system that balanced public safety with fairness and respect for older New Zealanders.

"Our position has always been that safety must come first, but assessments should be based on sound clinical evidence and individual circumstances rather than assumptions about age."

Grey Power New Zealand represents tens of thousands of older New Zealanders through its nationwide network of local associations. The organisation advocates on issues including retirement income, healthcare, housing, transport, energy costs and the rights and well-being of older people.