Drivers’ eye test flawed

By Chris Daniels

transport reporter

Eye tests introduced as part of a chaotic start to the new driver licensing system yesterday are expected to fail 375,000 New Zealanders - many of whom have nothing wrong with their vision.

Optometrists say they warned the Government the cheap eye-testing equipment it is using was not fully reliable, meaning drivers will have to pay an extra $45 or more for a test that then proves they were wrongly failed.

Every one of New Zealand's 2.5 million drivers will have to go through the $30 procedure of getting a new licence and officials estimate 15 per cent (375,000) will fail the basic eye test.

If that happens they must pay for and pass a full eye test with a qualified optometrist to keep driving.

The initial test, involving licensing staff directing people to look into a box, has been described as "a bit of a concern" by optometrists.

A New Zealand Herald reporter passed the test when it was demonstrated to politicians and guests a fortnight ago in Wellington - then failed it in Auckland yesterday, only to get driving clearance from an optometrist.

Noel Rugg, of the Automobile Association, which has the contract to do the relicensing in the upper North Island, explained the discrepancy by saying the Wellington tests were not conducted by fully trained staff.

But the president of the Optometrists Association, John McLennan, said the machines did not work for everyone. Looking at a wall rather than into a box was more natural and would give a more accurate reading.

"It is something we told them about, that the machines were not that reliable - but obviously using a machine is a quicker way of screening people so they opted to go that way."

Despite the possibility of 375,000 eye tests having to be conducted by his colleagues, Mr McLennan suggested they were not expecting to get rich quick. "It's not exactly high-profit stuff."

Some were considering offering a cheaper test that would meet regulatory standards for as little as $10 to $15.

A rush of about 30,000 people wanting to upgrade to new driver licences caused frustrating delays yesterday.

The Land Transport Safety Authority operations manager, Rob Martyn, said many were anxious about the new requirement to carry a driver licence at all times when driving.

The Whangarei AA office manager, Glenn Hooper, said his staff had been run off their feet. He suggested those who had lost their licences wait until their birthday because "police have said they will be understanding in the first months."

Long queues and frustrating delays were also reported in Hamilton, Te Kuiti and Tauranga.
Frances Webb, of Auckland, went to an AA Express centre to book in for a practical driving test. "It was absolute chaos. They said they couldn't process it today and they suggested I come back in six months!"