Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following article are solely those of the author.
I understand that taking away someone’s driver’s license also takes away a level of independence. However, if it’s a matter of safety for them and those around them, it’s a decision that should be made without hesitation.
According to the CDC, in 2020 nearly 48 million people aged 65 and older held a driver’s license, marking a 68% increase since 2000. As older adults continue to stay healthy, that number is expected to keep growing.
Although senior citizens aren’t the demographic most likely to cause accidents — that falls to drivers under 40 — people over 65 are at a higher risk of accidents due to age-related challenges. In 2020 alone, nearly 7,500 older adults lost their lives in crashes, and almost 200,000 were treated for injuries in hospitals.
At present, there is no federal law specifying at what age individuals should cease driving, and I don’t believe we need to push for such legislation. However, I do think it’s essential to reassess the situation for individuals when they reach 70, as they are still legally permitted to drive.
License renewal processes vary significantly from state to state.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, as of 2020, 21 states implement shorter license renewal periods based on a driver’s age. For instance, in Florida, the typical renewal period is eight years, but once drivers turn 80, they must renew their licenses every six years. In Maine, drivers under 65 can renew their licenses every six years, while those over 65 are required to renew every four years.
Beyond the renewal periods, it’s crucial to address the importance of vision tests and road tests.
As of 2020, only four states required older drivers to undergo visual acuity tests once they reach a certain age. The rest of the states either have a minimum vision requirement for all drivers, regardless of age, but do not conduct on-site testing, or mandate that everyone, regardless of age, take a vision acuity test during their in-person renewal.
All states should implement a visual acuity test for all drivers, either during an in-person renewal or by allowing those who renew online or by mail to submit results from a recent eye exam.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect is that only one state mandates that individuals over a certain age retake the road test before renewing their license. This could change soon, as a legislator in Illinois is proposing to eliminate the road test requirement for drivers over 75.
Some view this proposal as ageist, while others argue that individuals with traffic violations should be subjected to more scrutiny than senior citizens.
Regular retesting of elderly drivers can help identify any issues they may have with driving, allowing for necessary adjustments to ensure they remain safe on the road.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that while strength, cognitive skills, and eyesight may deteriorate with age, being older does not inherently mean someone cannot drive safely. Since one person’s abilities may remain sharp while another’s decline, there shouldn’t be a blanket age limit for driving—rather, there should be a requirement for those over a certain age to retake the road test.
