Helping Older Drivers Stay Mobile

The Liberal Government is moving to end discrimination against older drivers to help them to stay mobile and retain their independence.

Effective immediately, drivers over the age of 75 will no longer be required to undertake mandatory annual medical assessments to maintain their driving licences.

Appropriately, we are acting to end this ageist practice in the midst of Seniors Week, a celebration of the contribution of older people to our community.

All the research shows that there is little to suggest that mandatory age-based testing actually improves crash risk or reduces crash rates of older drivers, while the age-based testing itself creates anxiety for many older people and can discourage them from continuing driving.

Further, the Department advises that the testing regime is not cost-effective.

Abolishing mandatory age-based medical assessments for older drivers is supported by the Australian Medical Association, Council of the Ageing and the Anti-Discrimination Commission, and brings Tasmania into line with Victoria and South Australia.

Importantly, this move will see a renewed focus on the fact that medical conditions can affect drivers of any age.

About 18,000 drivers have notified the Registrar of Motor Vehicles that they have a medical condition, with only 6000 of these being aged 75 years or over.

Our resources are clearly best used assessing those 18,000 drivers with existing medical conditions that may impact on their driving, rather than blanket assessing healthy older drivers.

Drivers of all ages are ultimately responsible for themselves and other road users, and this extends to the legal requirement to notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of any relevant medical conditions and being assessed as whether they are safe to drive.

Today’s announcement will not only end an ageist practice, it will also encourage older Tasmanians to stay active and mobile in our community.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure