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U.S. Driver License System for Elderly Drivers / Driver License
July 26 2024
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U.S. Driver License System for Elderly Drivers / Driver License
As of 2022, the number of seniors aged 70 and older is 39 million, accounting for 12% of the total population. Among those aged 70 and over, approximately 34 million are reported to hold a driver's license. The U.S. predicts that the number of aged people will be increased up to 53 million before 2030 and sees the increased number of elderly populations would affect the transportation safety. In reality, when it comes to the traffic accident rate and mortality, it's been found that the ratio of elderly drivers aged 75 or older spiked. Let's take a look at the cases of how the US manage the aging population and elderly drivers, and the systems in implementation for it.
In the U.S., there's no rule for elderly drivers to return their driver's license automatically just because they are old and the managing regulation or legal system does not exist either at the government level. Since the laws and regulations regarding elderly drivers are independently managed by each state, they are implemented in various ways across different states.
With these systems and practices, it examines elderly drivers to see if they have the physical status and cognitive ability for safe driving, and if the test result finds the driver is incompetent for driving, his/her driver license could temporarily be suspended or revoked.
◎ Driver’s License Renewal Program
The most universalized system would determine the elderly drivers' driving ability based on the renewed period of their driver's license.
1. In-Person Renewal
About 23 states in the U.S. prohibit the online renewal of elderly drivers and allows the in-person renewal only. This is for making them visit the driver license renewal offices to check their physical and health condition.
2. Shortened Renewal Cycles
In addition to in-person driver's license renewals, many states have shortened driver's license renewal cycles for older drivers. This is usually a two-year cycle in many states, and the age threshold varies from state to state. This is to allow for a shorter assessment, as older drivers' physical and health conditions can decline rapidly over a shorter period of time.
3. Periodic Physical Test
Periodic Physical Test / Most states in the U.S. carry out the eyesight test for elderly drivers at the time of their driver's license renewal. At the same time, some states include audiometry as part of the assessment. These regular examinations help determine the driving abilities of elderly drivers.
4. Road Tests
Road Tests / In addition to the programs mentioned above, three states (Illinois, New Hampshire, and Indiana) implemented road tests for elderly drivers during the license renewal period as a more stringent assessment method. However, due to concerns of inequality, New Hampshire and Indiana have discontinued this practice, and currently, only Illinois maintains this system. In Illinois, drivers aged 81 to 86 are required to take a road test every two years, and those aged 87 and older must retake the test annually.
◎ Conditional Driving
1. Medical Report
If medical professionals see a driver's physical, mental, health state is unfit to driving, they can recommend the driver conditional driving or stop driving. This is not legally enforceable but still important for the driver's safety and the driver should follow the professional's diagnosis. If the driver ignores them and keeps driving, the insurance coverage could be rejected at the time of car accident and he/she could face additional legal action.
2. Issuing Conditional Driver’s License
Furthermore, if medical professionals believe a driver's health state is unfit to drive, they can report a transportation authority and police of it. The authority can issue a conditional driver's license to allow the driver to drive under specific weather condition or specific timeline only based on the medical opinion. For example, the driver may not be allowed for night-time driving, may not drive exceeding a certain distance, may not drive on highways, or may not drive during rush hour depending on the elderly driver's ability.
◎ Voluntary Surrender Programs
Some states run the program for elderly drivers to return their driver's license voluntarily. As a driver's license is used as a major ID, alternative ID is issued after the return and the alternative forms of transportation and its information are provided.
◎ Roles of Family and Communities
If family, friends, or neighbors have concerns about an older driver's ability to drive, there is also a process in place to report state transportation authorities of it. This report can be made anonymously, and authorities will then make the appropriate assessment.
The driver's license renewal system and conditional driver's license program for elderly drivers in the United States aim at ensuring the safety of elderly drivers while maintaining their autonomy and mobility. Reducing the accident rate and preserving the independence of elderly drivers is a common goal not only in the U.S. but also in our country. In line with the trend of improving automotive safety technology and road safety, the driver's license system for elderly drivers should be continuously improved and developed to enhance their safety.
* This card news is produced by modifying and supplementing Brief 2024 Vol.11 No.2 ‘U.S. Driver License System for Elderly People’ of Brief KOTI Zero Traffic Accidents.