New Zealands Senior Driver Operational Setting Ministry of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

New Zealand’s Senior Driver Operational Setting

Ministry of Transport and New Zealand Transport Agency 1 March 2010 Benjamin Carpenter (MoT), Mark Pugin (NZTA), Adrian Stephenson (NZTA)

Relicensing Requirements

Relicensing every 10 years until age 75: must sign medical declaration or provide a medical certificate, and must pass vision test. At age 75, 80 and two-yearly thereafter : medical check by GP who certifies medical fitness to drive, and vision test with GP option to refer for On-road Safety Test

Older driver licence renewal process

Safe with Age

Safe with Age was a road safety awareness and road rules refresher course for persons

• ver the age of 55+

The free courses were run by local groups, such as Age Concern, and co-ordinated by such as Age Concern, and co-ordinated by NZTA. Safe with Age consisted of a 4 hour in class course and an optional practical coaching and assessment drive.

Participation numbers

Target set = 8,000 persons per year within three years. Course numbers

• 2007-08

3,726

• 2008-09

4,083 Coaching and Assessment numbers

• 2007-08 = 710 redeemed driving vouchers
• 2008-09 = 622 redeemed driving vouchers

Decision to cease funding Safe with Age

• Strategic fit – SWA (older drivers) not a high strategic priority in

the 2020 Safer Journeys discussion document. In this document

• lder drivers are classed as an ‘emerging issue’.
• Effectiveness - SWA is not effective in reach. The course

nationally had a very low impact – reaching only 4,000 nationally had a very low impact – reaching only 4,000 participants a year out of a potential pool of 807,165 licence holders over the age of 55+

• Economic efficiency - SWA not effective in obtaining value for
• money. A very low BCR rating of 0.37, national programmes

require a BCR of at least 1.0 as a minimum.

However…

NZTA still committed to improving safety for mature drivers – but a more cost efficient programme that will reach a greater proportion of the target audience is required. A number of providers are currently running or looking to fund and run their own type of older driver workshop based on the SWA

• content. NZTA have made available some SWA materials with out
• content. NZTA have made available some SWA materials with out

branding etc… for providers to use. A mature road user education reference group established. Aim - develop and pilot an alternative older driver education approach during 2010-2011.