February 26, 2026 • 6 mins
Another way of keeping older folks safer on the roads.
Aucklander Boyd Steel has started a business producing ‘S’ plates – a car sticker designed to let other drivers know there’s an older driver behind the wheel.
The blue sticker is similar to the yellow ‘L’ plate for learner drivers, signalling that the driver may be slower or less confident and asking for patience.
Steel told Kerre Woodham it was inspired by his nana, for who driving was an important part of her freedom, but had become slow driver towards the end of her life.
“It wasn’t until sort of after she passed, and I sort of started seeing other senior drivers on the road, I just started thinking, God, I hope no one ever gave her a hard time.”
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the carry wood of morning's podcast from
news Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be see what you think about this. Boyd Steel
started up a new business. It's promoting safer driver interactions
for the elderly on our roads. You slap an S
sticker on your car like an L plate to let
other road users know you're older and that you may
be a slower driver and to just be patient. Boyd
(00:32):
Steel joins me now in a very good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
What thanks for having me, no, lovely, So what.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Was the catalyst behind producing the S stickers? Boyd?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It really goes back to my manner. She passed away
back in two thousand and sustain and I just over
the years, I remember thinking, gee, she slowed down her driving.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
It bit you.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
She says. She was a real cruiser. Yeah, And by
the end of the days when she's still driving, she'd
have a couple of different drives. She did. She go
in to supermarket every couple of days, and she'd go
to my auntie's house. But it was really important for
her freedom. And it was until sort of after she
passed and I sort of started seeing others, sort of
seeing your drivers on the road. I just started thinking, God,
I hope and I never gave her a hard time,
(01:15):
as I sort of having seen road rage incidents myself
around slow drivers at And it wasn't actually till last
year with my my father who's just tune seventy and
he was a five flighter for ever in Auckland. I
thought he was the best driver ever, and he just
admitted the last few years he just feels a bit
but hesitant now in traffic and even driving at night.
And he was driving along looking for an address one day,
(01:37):
you know how you do, looking for a letterbox, and
this car swooed around in front of him, blocked him
off and jumped out of his car and just abused
him and told him to go back to the rest
home your fart. And I was like, all right, I've
been thinking about this for a few years. I might
try and do something about it.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
You are the kindest, kindest person, but don't you get
frustrated when you see someone inching along looking at the
letterboxes instead of having it on your GPS or.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Something exactly exactly? And that was actually another moment too,
where I was driving along by a car and it
was going quite slow, and you know a little bit hesitant,
and I hadn't felt myself getting a bit frustrated, and
I pulled up next to them at the intersection. I
looked across and it was this lovely old man the
old lady in their summer hat, going for a drive.
And I got frustrated at myself that I had been frustrated,
(02:24):
and I was like what, And I kept on things
to my partner. I was like, Oh, we need something
on the car that lets you know, because if you
see a learner plate, for example, you instantly are aware
and you think I'm going to give them some space
they're learning to drive. Or if you see a baby
on boards sticker, someone's chosen to put a baby on
boardstick in the car because if you have kids, you'll
know that you're reaching around for a bottle or a
(02:45):
toy on the floor, and you just.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Want people to be aware. And then I thought, well,
why can't we do something the same thing for people
who've sort of acknowledged that maybe they're still a good driver,
but they have slowed down of it. They're not quite
as assertive as at intersections.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Anymore, et cetera. And I think, yeah, that was the
sort of the meeting.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
But should they be on the roadboard like with the
learner driver their skills they're upskilling by being on the
road with our lovely older drivers. Their reflexes aren't the same,
their visibility is not the same. I totally get that
they want their independence. But in the days of uber
and they get discounted taxis, wouldn't it be better and
(03:25):
safer for everybody as they didn't contribute to the stress
on the roads.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, I do know they have to have more frequent
driving tests, don't they. And I mean this is not
to sort of say whether they're a good driver or
a bad driver. I would hope obviously if people thought
they were a danger driver, then maybe their children or
grandchildren would have that chat with them. This is the
people who made me think, well, I am a sort
of good driver, but I just go a bit slower
now and just to sort of get awareness. I do
(03:54):
think it's a country we are actually pretty respectful of
our elders. But if you don't know, you can't so
that you know. It's human nature. They leave everything quite late,
so we're always in a bit of a rush to
get to work or get where they're going. And if
we see someone not doing the speed and it we're like,
oh jeez. But I think if you have that awareness, hopeful,
hopefully you can do some good.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well you're right, I mean when you like, I can
feel myself boiling when I see some idiot in front
of me just inching along or not indicating, and then
I think, just calm down. You've made mistakes before, and
if you're in a rush, it's because you left too
late to leave. But it's a real zen thing trying
(04:34):
to get into that mindset. But some of the older
drivers I've heard from their adult children, you know, they
consider it their right to be able to drive every
Wednesday up to the mall and they don't bother indicating
because everybody knows I go up to the mall on
a Wednesday, and their adult children are driven to distraction.
(04:56):
You know, you are going to either be in an
accident or cause one, and both options are horrible to
think about. They are.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
And I actually think a lot of the people that
are going to be getting a sticker is not actually
out of people. It might actually be adult children, people
my age who I still have a nanna who's just
turned nineteen. She doesn't drive, but her sister does it
eighty five and they get to get it twice a
week and go to the RSA to play cards, and
that's super important for them. And yeah, I don't want
that taken away from them. And by no means that
(05:25):
they're bad driver, But yeah, I know what you're talking about,
and hopefully it could actually make sort of some of
us feel more comfortable with our parents driving once it.
Obviously it needs to get out there and people need
to actually recognize what it is. So it's a sort
of beautiful blue color that I think is quite recognizable.
So I hope that it can become recognizable.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
And where do people get the stickers from boards?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
From the website the estica dot com. It's the best
way to go. I've got all the other social links
as well, Facebook, Instagram, etcetera, so you can search on
the end. Yeah, so farther. The feedback has been sort
of so positive. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone's
sort of privately message me or putting on the comments
like oh my god, I know someone is a friend
of a friend who has a cop. Got in touch
means said, oh, we see so much road rage. This
(06:08):
is very much needed. So yeah, it's just been a
real amazing response considering I have launched it last week,
so it's been been really good.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
You sound like just the sort of grandson every grand
parent would want, Boyd. I'm not sure. I'm not sure
how popular it will be, but I you are just
the sort of person you'd want as a grandson. What
a caring human you are.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Awesome. Thank you, Thank you, Boyd.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Boyd's deal is sticker founder. What do you think good
idea or not. I'd really rather anyone who is a
little bit lacking in confidence got the taxi, the heavily
discounted taxis and arrived in style. I totally understand about
the independence, but it's not all right.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
For more from Kerry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news Talks it'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the carry wood of morning's podcast from
news Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be see what you think about this. Boyd Steel
started up a new business. It's promoting safer driver interactions
for the elderly on our roads. You slap an S
sticker on your car like an L plate to let
other road users know you're older and that you may
be a slower driver and to just be patient. Boyd
(00:32):
Steel joins me now in a very good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
What thanks for having me, no, lovely, So what.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Was the catalyst behind producing the S stickers? Boyd?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It really goes back to my manner. She passed away
back in two thousand and sustain and I just over
the years, I remember thinking, gee, she slowed down her driving.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
It bit you.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
She says. She was a real cruiser. Yeah, And by
the end of the days when she's still driving, she'd
have a couple of different drives. She did. She go
in to supermarket every couple of days, and she'd go
to my auntie's house. But it was really important for
her freedom. And it was until sort of after she
passed and I sort of started seeing others, sort of
seeing your drivers on the road. I just started thinking, God,
I hope and I never gave her a hard time,
(01:15):
as I sort of having seen road rage incidents myself
around slow drivers at And it wasn't actually till last
year with my my father who's just tune seventy and
he was a five flighter for ever in Auckland. I
thought he was the best driver ever, and he just
admitted the last few years he just feels a bit
but hesitant now in traffic and even driving at night.
And he was driving along looking for an address one day,
(01:37):
you know how you do, looking for a letterbox, and
this car swooed around in front of him, blocked him
off and jumped out of his car and just abused
him and told him to go back to the rest
home your fart. And I was like, all right, I've
been thinking about this for a few years. I might
try and do something about it.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
You are the kindest, kindest person, but don't you get
frustrated when you see someone inching along looking at the
letterboxes instead of having it on your GPS or.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Something exactly exactly? And that was actually another moment too,
where I was driving along by a car and it
was going quite slow, and you know a little bit hesitant,
and I hadn't felt myself getting a bit frustrated, and
I pulled up next to them at the intersection. I
looked across and it was this lovely old man the
old lady in their summer hat, going for a drive.
And I got frustrated at myself that I had been frustrated,
(02:24):
and I was like what, And I kept on things
to my partner. I was like, Oh, we need something
on the car that lets you know, because if you
see a learner plate, for example, you instantly are aware
and you think I'm going to give them some space
they're learning to drive. Or if you see a baby
on boards sticker, someone's chosen to put a baby on
boardstick in the car because if you have kids, you'll
know that you're reaching around for a bottle or a
(02:45):
toy on the floor, and you just.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Want people to be aware. And then I thought, well,
why can't we do something the same thing for people
who've sort of acknowledged that maybe they're still a good driver,
but they have slowed down of it. They're not quite
as assertive as at intersections.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Anymore, et cetera. And I think, yeah, that was the
sort of the meeting.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
But should they be on the roadboard like with the
learner driver their skills they're upskilling by being on the
road with our lovely older drivers. Their reflexes aren't the same,
their visibility is not the same. I totally get that
they want their independence. But in the days of uber
and they get discounted taxis, wouldn't it be better and
(03:25):
safer for everybody as they didn't contribute to the stress
on the roads.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, I do know they have to have more frequent
driving tests, don't they. And I mean this is not
to sort of say whether they're a good driver or
a bad driver. I would hope obviously if people thought
they were a danger driver, then maybe their children or
grandchildren would have that chat with them. This is the
people who made me think, well, I am a sort
of good driver, but I just go a bit slower
now and just to sort of get awareness. I do
(03:54):
think it's a country we are actually pretty respectful of
our elders. But if you don't know, you can't so
that you know. It's human nature. They leave everything quite late,
so we're always in a bit of a rush to
get to work or get where they're going. And if
we see someone not doing the speed and it we're like,
oh jeez. But I think if you have that awareness, hopeful,
hopefully you can do some good.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well you're right, I mean when you like, I can
feel myself boiling when I see some idiot in front
of me just inching along or not indicating, and then
I think, just calm down. You've made mistakes before, and
if you're in a rush, it's because you left too
late to leave. But it's a real zen thing trying
(04:34):
to get into that mindset. But some of the older
drivers I've heard from their adult children, you know, they
consider it their right to be able to drive every
Wednesday up to the mall and they don't bother indicating
because everybody knows I go up to the mall on
a Wednesday, and their adult children are driven to distraction.
(04:56):
You know, you are going to either be in an
accident or cause one, and both options are horrible to
think about. They are.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
And I actually think a lot of the people that
are going to be getting a sticker is not actually
out of people. It might actually be adult children, people
my age who I still have a nanna who's just
turned nineteen. She doesn't drive, but her sister does it
eighty five and they get to get it twice a
week and go to the RSA to play cards, and
that's super important for them. And yeah, I don't want
that taken away from them. And by no means that
(05:25):
they're bad driver, But yeah, I know what you're talking about,
and hopefully it could actually make sort of some of
us feel more comfortable with our parents driving once it.
Obviously it needs to get out there and people need
to actually recognize what it is. So it's a sort
of beautiful blue color that I think is quite recognizable.
So I hope that it can become recognizable.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
And where do people get the stickers from boards?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
From the website the estica dot com. It's the best
way to go. I've got all the other social links
as well, Facebook, Instagram, etcetera, so you can search on
the end. Yeah, so farther. The feedback has been sort
of so positive. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone's
sort of privately message me or putting on the comments
like oh my god, I know someone is a friend
of a friend who has a cop. Got in touch
means said, oh, we see so much road rage. This
(06:08):
is very much needed. So yeah, it's just been a
real amazing response considering I have launched it last week,
so it's been been really good.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
You sound like just the sort of grandson every grand
parent would want, Boyd. I'm not sure. I'm not sure
how popular it will be, but I you are just
the sort of person you'd want as a grandson. What
a caring human you are.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Awesome. Thank you, Thank you, Boyd.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Boyd's deal is sticker founder. What do you think good
idea or not. I'd really rather anyone who is a
little bit lacking in confidence got the taxi, the heavily
discounted taxis and arrived in style. I totally understand about
the independence, but it's not all right.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
For more from Kerry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
news Talks it'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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