95bFM Concerns over eye exam cuts under proposed driver licence changes
29 October, 2025
Interview and article by Vihan Dalal
The government has proposed reducing the frequency of eye exams for drivers, but the New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) argues that young drivers are most susceptible to vision changes.
New Zealand’s apex optometry body has opposed the government’s proposal to reduce the number of eye exams for drivers, as part of its wider proposed reforms to the Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS).
The proposal, meant to make obtaining a full driver’s licence “accessible, efficient, and affordable,” includes a slew of changes, among which is a slashing of the number of required eye exams. Drivers are currently required to undergo an eye exam before sitting their learner’s, restricted, and full driving tests.
In a statement to 95bFM, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the current proposal is based on a 2019 consultation on proposed changes to the Land Transport (Driver Licensing Rule) 1999, which suggested reducing eyesight testing for class one and six licence holders.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport told 95bFM the ministry consulted on removing eyesight screenings for class one and six licence holders, as well as removing eyesight screenings for both to enable online licence applications. They said the ministry cannot comment on which of the two proposals will be implemented or to which licence class they might apply.
Bishop said the proposed changes were “backed up by an analysis of crash data, statistics on the effectiveness of eyesight testing, cost-benefit analysis, and a comparison with other jurisdictions.”
He also said the crash data analysis of drivers who passed their eye exam and those who failed showed no distinct benefits of repeated vision testing, and that New Zealand Transport Agency statistics suggest eyesight screening is not reflective of eyesight capabilities.
The new proposal would see drivers get their vision tested when they apply for their first licence, and when they renew their licence at the age of 45.
The New Zealand Association of Optometrists’ (NZAO) President, Hadyn Treanor, told 95bFM’s The Wire that people’s vision can change significantly when they are younger, most frequently between an individual’s teenage years and into their early 20s.
“Someone who passes an eye test at 16 is not guaranteed to pass the same test even 12 months later.
“This is the core reason the NZAO opposes the suggested changes.”
He links people not being able to judge whether their vision has deteriorated as another concern with the proposal, which states that drivers only need to declare their vision hasn’t deteriorated before sitting their test.
“We know from the patients that come in and see us…people aren’t necessarily a good detector of what their vision is like,” he says.
In their submission to the Ministry of Transport, the NZAO said sight-threatening conditions like glaucoma can be present for significant periods before a person becomes aware of them, and that gradual vision loss can often go unnoticed.
Treanor says there has been an uptick in short-sightedness among the general population of developed countries, which has been starting at a younger age.
“As people spend more time inside, more time on devices, we see more and more short-sightedness, which has a huge impact on distance viewing for driving.”
One University of Auckland student expressed her unwillingness to get an eye exam, citing costs and access, especially for those who aren’t from Auckland. In contrast, another student favoured routine eye exams, despite the rising costs.
If passed into law, the reforms will take effect in July 2026.
