Driving — when to stop and how to talk about it

The NZ licence renewal process

• Age 75: renew every 5 years, with a medical certificate from the GP
• Age 80: renew every 2 years, still with medical certificate
• The GP completes a DL9 medical certificate at each renewal — checks vision, cognition, mobility, and any medications affecting driving
• If the GP has concerns, they can recommend a practical on-road safety test through Waka Kotahi
• The GP can also notify Waka Kotahi at any time outside renewal if a patient is medically unsafe to drive (e.g. after a stroke or dementia diagnosis)

There is no automatic age cut-off. A fit 88-year-old can keep driving; a 70-year-old after a stroke may not.

Warning signs it's time to stop or reassess

• New dents or scrapes on the car the driver can't fully explain
• Getting lost on familiar routes
• Slower reactions, drifting between lanes, missing stop signs
• Anxiety about driving — avoiding motorways, night, rain
• Other drivers honking or gesturing more often
• Family members reluctant to let grandchildren ride with them
• A diagnosis that affects driving: dementia, Parkinson's, severe arthritis, recent stroke, uncontrolled epilepsy, sleep apnoea, vision loss
• Sedating medications — many common ones (benzodiazepines, opioids, some antidepressants, sleep aids) impair driving

Having the conversation

• Use specific observations. "I noticed you missed the give-way at the corner last Tuesday" lands better than "You're not safe."
• Loop in the GP. Many people will accept "the doctor says I shouldn't" when they won't accept it from a son or daughter.
• Name what's actually being lost — independence, identity, the freedom to leave the house on a whim. Don't pretend it's just transport.
• Have alternatives ready before the conversation, not after. "We've already worked out you can get to your Tuesday Tai Chi via Total Mobility" matters more than the principle.
• Be patient with denial and anger. These are normal reactions to a real loss.
• If they won't engage, contact their GP yourself with your observations. The GP can act on family-supplied information and is required to notify Waka Kotahi if a patient is unsafe.

Refresher options before stopping

Sometimes the issue is rust, not capacity. Worth trying first:

• AA Senior Driver workshops (RoadCode for Seniors) — free or low-cost classroom sessions
• One-off lesson with a driving instructor — feedback on actual driving habits without the licence consequences of a Waka Kotahi test
• Vision review — uncorrected vision is a common quiet fix
• Medication review — see free pharmacist medicine review

Alternatives to driving

• SuperGold Card — free off-peak public transport for everyone 65+ (most regions)
• Total Mobility scheme — 50% subsidy on taxi fares for people with mobility impairment. Apply through your regional council.
• Community transport — many community organisations, churches, and Age Concerns run volunteer driver services. Often heavily subsidised or free.
• Driving Miss Daisy / Freedom Companion Driving — companion driving services (paid). Available in most NZ cities.
• Family roster — a shared spreadsheet for who is driving Mum to what
• Online shopping + grocery delivery — particularly under-used by elderly families. Worth setting up before the licence is gone.
• Walking and mobility scooters — for short, local trips. Mobility scooters are road-legal and don't require a licence.