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How is your physical fitness?
Flexibility allows you to see what is happening on the road. Exercise can help
to improve your range of motions.
Sleepiness
The use of multiple prescription drugs may cause drowsiness. Sleeping and
driving don't mix.
Attention and reaction time
Older drivers often find it difficult to react quickly as they process multiple
images or sounds, such as when they're looking for street signs while monitoring
traffic and talking with a passenger.
Losing the Right to Drive is a Traumatic Event
Driving is viewed as a necessity. When a disability occurs, it can affect the
skills necessary for independent living.
Ethical and Moral Concerns
Senior
Few seniors plan for the time when they will be unable to drive, yet many will
eventually face this decision. Most believe they will know when it is time to
stop driving. However most seniors also know friends who continue driving and
can no longer operate a vehicle safely.
Giving up the car keys is viewed by elders and those around them as a major
event with significant implications regarding independence, self-sufficiency
(especially in Los Angeles), and social responsibilities.
Many seniors face this dilemma:
"Do I continue to drive even when driving begins to pose real safety risks for
myself and others?" Faced with this dilemma, some individuals stop driving,
while others continue to drive.
Family
Giving up driving is a major event for an older person and a senior's loss of
independence also has significant implications for his or her family.
Children are reluctant to discuss this emotional issue and may be concerned
about hurting the senior's feeling. Some family members may also be afraid of
losing the senior's affection or of retaliation.
Family members may be unprepared to provide the additional level of care and
support needed by an increasingly dependent elder.
Many family members must face this decision:
"Do I continue to let a senior drive even when driving begins to pose real
safety risks for him or her, other family members and the public?" Some family
members refuse to intervene but would not let their own young children ride with
the senior driver.
Physicians
Physicians must balance their ethical responsibilities to patients and to the
public. In December, 1999, the American Medical Association changed its ethical
guidelines to let doctors notify the motor vehicle department in their states
about patients with medical conditions that could make them unsafe drivers. This
policy makes public safety a priority over the confidentiality of patients and
does not have universal support among physicians.
Organizations
Most organizations providing services to seniors are aware of elders who can no
longer drive safely but continue to do so and are placing themselves and the
public at risk.
Like physicians, social workers attempt to balance their ethical
responsibilities to clients and to the public. They are also very concerned that
their organization not get a reputation for "turning in" seniors to the
Department of Motor Vehicles, thus discouraging elders from seeking their
services.
Elected Representatives
Elected representatives are caught between constituents clamoring for public
safety through increased screenings of older drivers, and pressure from seniors
and advocacy organizations fighting against age discrimination.
In several states, legislative attempts to add to the testing requirements for
older drivers have met with successful opposition from senior groups (such as
AARP and the Congress of California Seniors). Additional driving tests for the
elderly continues to be a highly controversial topic.
An interesting comparison of the Driver Licensing Renewal Procedures for Older
Drivers in the U.S. as of May 2004 can be found on the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety Web site.
Many renewal requirements now focus on health, not age, in determining whether
people should be retested.
A DMV Web page addresses these questions:
* What can DMV do about a person who may be unable to drive safely due to a
physical or mental condition or disorder?
* What types of medical conditions can affect a person's ability to drive
safely?
* How does DMV find out about persons who may be unsafe to drive due to a
physical or mental condition or disorder?
* How do I let DMV know about a family member, relative or acquaintance whom I
believe may no longer be a safe driver?
* What types of conditions must a physician report to DMV?
How to Refer an Unsafe Driver
If you are concerned for the safety of a family member, friend, or other person
who can no longer drive safely, you may write to your local Driver Safety Office
or the address given below. You should provide the person's name as shown on the
license, birth date, driver license number (if known) and current address, and
explain what you observed that led you to believe the person is an unsafe
driver. The letter must be signed; however, you may request that your name be
kept confidential.
Write your letter to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver Safety Actions Unit M/S J234
P.O. Box 942890
Sacramento, CA 94290-0001
DMV will contact the person for a reexamination and, if necessary, administer a
driving test to determine whether or not the person is safe to drive. The person
may be issued a restricted license. It is possible that the person's driving
privilege may be revoked as a safety measure, not only for the safety of that
individual but also for the safety of the rest of the driving public.
Confidentiality of Reporter
Anonymous reports will not be considered. However, you can ask to keep your name
confidential and DMV will not tell the person who made the report.
According to Vehicle Code §1808.5, all records received by DMV, which report a
physical or mental condition are confidential and cannot be made public:
"Except as provided in Section 22511.58, all records of the department relating
to the physical or mental condition of any person, and convictions of any
offense involving the use or possession of controlled substances under Division
10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code not arising
from circumstances involving a motor vehicle, are confidential and not open to
public inspection."
Reexamination Process
The reexamination process may include an interview, a written test and a driving
test.
DMV may send the person a form (DS 326: Driver Medical Evaluation) and a notice
to call a Driver Safety office for a DMV reexamination. The physician treating
the person must complete the medical form. It is important for the person to
come in for his or her DMV appointment and bring the completed medical form,
otherwise his or her driving privilege will be suspended.
A detailed description and a copy of the Driver Medical Evaluation Form can be
obtained on-line.
Starting January 2001, a driving test will be given to any person when a:
*Physician reports the person has lapses of consciousness.
*Traffic officer requests a DMV review and the officer believes the driver is
incapable of operating a vehicle safely.
*Relative makes a good-faith report to DMV stating the driver cannot safely
operate a vehicle.
DMV Options
A determination may be made that no condition exists which warrants an action
against the driving privilege. The department may also find that a condition
exists which warrants:
*Reexamination on a specified date (Calendar Reexamination)
*Medical Probation I: driver must comply with medical regimen and report any
changes to the department
*Medical Probation II: annual medical reports required to be submitted to the
department on specified dates
*Limited Term Licenses: license issued by the field office for one to two years
which requires the driver to return to the department for reevaluation and/or
testing
*Restrictions
*Suspension
*Revocation: The hearing officer may revoke the person's driving privilege if he
or she does not do well on the written test or it is clear that the person does
not have the skills needed for safe driving. For this reason, DMV suggests that
someone accompany the person to the interview. The loss of license will be a
traumatic event. Support and resources should be made immediately available to
help the senior during this crisis.
No-Fee Identification Card
The driver license is often a person's primary means of identification. Its loss
often means the person will not have a handy form of photo identification for
check cashing purposes, qualifications for services, etc. DMV understands that a
person needs some form of identification. So If a senior's driving privilege has
been revoked because he or she is no longer able to drive safely, or he or she
develops a physical or mental condition which interferes with his or her driving
performance and voluntarily surrenders the driver license, then DMV will
exchange a valid driver license for an identification card (ID) free of charge,
as long as the license has not expired.
Automobile Club of Southern California
Public Safety Dept. H206
2601 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
California State Automobile Association
Traffic Safety Dept.
150 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94101
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
1440 New York Avenue, Suite 201
Washington, DC 20005
Arrange for a private driver evaluation
If you, or those who drive with you, are concerned about your safety, you may
chose to have a private driver evaluation.
A driver rehabilitation specialist can provide a comprehensive evaluation to
determine your ability to drive.
This assessment should include:
Vision Perception
Functional Ability
Reaction Time
Behind-the-wheel evaluation.
Support and Resources to Help After the Loss of a Driver's License
The loss of his or her Driver's License will be a traumatic event for the
senior. The sudden loss of transportation may mean the loss of:
Independence and self-esteem
Access to family and friends
Employment and income
Access to trusted medical care
Ability to shop including grocery shopping and prescriptions
Access to personal care
Social and cultural activities
Religious expression.
Support and resources should be made immediately available to help the senior
during this crisis.
Professional advice and support for the senior's family.
Specialized Resources are available to help a senior remain independent in his
or her own home.
Local clergy
Seniors who are actively involved with a religious institution can find support
from the congregation to keep this important component in their life.
Delivery Services
Increasingly groceries and prescriptions can be delivered to a senior's home and
you can explore this option.
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