Senior drivers' education
Programmes are available to help senior drivers hone their skills and identify aspects of their driving they may want to develop.
Many older New Zealanders rely on their car to get around – for shopping, appointments or visiting friends and family.
While older drivers don't have as many crashes, they and older passengers, if involved in a crash, are more at risk of being seriously injured or killed [NZTA]. This is due to increasing physical fragility.It's important for all drivers, regardless of age, to regularly and honestly assess their own driving capabilities to keep themselves and others safe. The ageing process can affect a range of skills essential to driving – including eyesight, memory, decision-making and reaction times.
> LINK to NZTA information about senior road users
Staying Safe
Staying Safe workshops help seniors refamiliarise themselves with traffic rules and safer driving practices as well as increasing their knowledge about other transport options available to help them stay mobile.
These classroom-based refresher workshops are open to anyone aged 70 and over.
> LINK to the New Zealand Transport Agency's resources index for older drivers
Workshop providers (May 2011), or contact your local Age Concern
Age Concern North Shore; Age Concern Mid North; Age Concern Napier; Age Concern Flaxmere; Age Concern Wanganui; Age Concern Otago; Bethel Enterprises Ltd; Mobility Centre; Age Concern Manawatu; Compliance Training Canterbury Inc; Age Concern Canterbury; Age Concern Horowhenua; Road Safe Nelson Bays; Colin Manion; The Learning Centre & Whanau Family Support; Age Concern Counties Manukau; Waipa District Council; Waitaki District Council.
Carfit
CarFit is a programme that helps older drivers make the best use their vehicle’s safety features so that they can continue to drive safely and retain independent mobility for as long as possible.
It includes a 12 Point Check-Up of how well you personally “fit” your vehicle and provides related information and recommendations that can improve your driving safety.
CarFit is a voluntary community education programme which is FREE to drivers who want to take advantage of it.