Approaching his 85th birthday, Ken Jeffrey was astonished to discover that NSW is the only State to require people of his age to not only pass a medical (which comes in at 75) but also take a driving test to retain their licences.

“I will be required to suffer the ignominy of having to undergo an on-road driving test,” says Ken, who has held a licence for 66 years without an accident and driven around the world (including Milan in the rush hour).

“I could avoid the test by moving to any other Australian State or Territory!

“We all want safe, competent and adequately assessed drivers of all ages on our roads, irrespective of where we live in Australia.

“If this can be achieved without on-road driving tests for senior AustraIians everywhere but NSW, why then is it only NSW that imposes an apparently unnecessary age-related discriminatory practice on its senior drivers?”

Asking around, Ken found that others of his vintage weren’t aware of the driving test only being required in NSW.

“In the months leading up to the test I have seen how stressful the approach of the test can be to people who are perfectly competent drivers,” he says.

“Why a driving test at age 85? Most 85 year olds today have the physical and mental capabilities of yesteryear’s 70 or 75 year olds.”

 After the initial test at 85, people are required to sit a test every two years after that despite no increase in insurance premiums for people of that age.

“The insurance companies would know if there is a bigger risk in that age bracket, and would be charging for it,” says Ken.

Having discovered this anomaly, he and other members of Kiama Mens Probus see it as age and geographical discrimination, and three of them - Ken, President Hilton Bloomfield and Gordon Bell - approached Gareth Ward MP to find out whether the practice can be justified.

As a result of that meeting Mr Ward has submitted two detailed Questions on Notice to the two relevant NSW ministers, responses to which are required by 25 October.

“I was more than happy to assist,” says Mr Ward.

“The concerns the residents have raised are legitimate and I’d like to know what the evidence is behind the NSW system, seeing that it seems to be inconsistent with other jurisdictions, and other jurisdictions have walked back from previous testing regimes.

“Another very valid point that was made is that when a person comes off a licence suspension for inappropriate driving behaviour, they aren’t required to undergo a driving test. But by virtue of age, and nothing else, you are required to undergo the test.”

Hilton Bloomfield sees this as the start of a big campaign for Kiama Probus, “I feel very strongly about it, because it is the lead up that upsets people. We have to do something about it – it’s ridiculous.”

“Either all other states and territories should apply the NSW approach, or NSW should harmonise its rules in this regard with all other states,” says Gordon Bell.

They will have a fight ahead of them, given as recently as 2017 members of the State's Staysafe Committee on Driver Education, Training and Road Safety decided to retain the tests despite strong lobbying from Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association and others.