Kerre Woodham: Bum rap for older drivers

The oldies love their Hillman Hunters and Toyota Corollas for the same reason young bogans love their souped-up Subarus and Nissans - and that's for the freedom and independence you get when you have a licence and a car to drive.

Both groups take inordinate care of their vehicles. Their cars are lovingly maintained, because not only do they love their machines, they also know the value of a dollar. And like the young ones, the oldies are a maligned minority.

Because of the idiocy and irresponsibility of some, all are punished - the young ones with conspicuous police attention, higher insurance premiums, and general ill-will from the community, and the oldies with two-yearly driver's licence tests, regular and expensive medical check-ups before they're allowed behind the wheel, and general ill-will from the community.

Come on. 'Fess up. How many of you haven't cursed darkly when you come roaring along the open road only to find yourself behind a snowy-haired driver, white knuckles gleaming in the sun as they hold the steering wheel in a death grip, crawling determinedly towards their destination, holding to the same speed as their age - anywhere from 75 to 82.

I know a lot of people, some seniors among them, think Helen Clark's being a bit hasty when she says she'll scrap the regular driving tests for the over-80s if Labour is re-elected, but really the statistics show that they're no more of a hazard than anyone else on the road. And I'd rather meet an oldie coming the other way than a middle-aged bloke who thinks he's the reincarnation of Ayrton Senna. No, I think the tests should go, but if they stay, can we at least make them free for the over-80s? Doesn't that seem the least we can do?