DRIVERS over the age of 75 will no longer have to undertake mandatory annual medical assessments to maintain their driving licences.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding yesterday said the government was moving to end what he described as "discrimination" against older drivers to help them stay mobile and retain independence.
"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," Mr Hidding said.
"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," Mr Hidding said.
Mr Hidding said he was advised by his department that the testing regime was not cost-effective.
Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania chief executive Harvey Lennon said the decision was a sensible one.
"But, at the same time, we believe there needs to be a significant advertising campaign targeting aged drivers to undertake self-assessment of their driving capability," Mr Lennon said.
The move has the support of the Australian Medical Association, Council of the Ageing and the Anti-Discrimination Commission, and brings Tasmania into line with Victoria and South Australia.
Mr Hidding said the change will see a renewed focus on the fact that medical conditions can affect drivers of any age.
"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," he said.
