A Driving Decision

At some point, an older person may face the decision to keep or give up a driver's license. A decline in the abilities required for safe driving may make driving dangerous. Also, some people drive less and less as they get older. They may find that maintaining a car for occasional use costs more than using public transportation. But giving up a driver's license means giving up some freedom and independence.

Sometimes the family doctor or a loved one is the one that first realizes that it is time for an older driver to give up the car keys. Dealing with these issues is always difficult, but ignoring them can bring even greater misery.

One approach to the decision is to suggest that the older driver be tested by the state agency that oversees or regulates licensure. Testing can be requested by the driver, an immediate family member, or a doctor. It can include both written and on-road evaluations. In many states, doctors are required to report any driver believed to be unsafe.

Laws regulating the possession and renewal of a driver's license by older drivers vary from country to country and state to state. In the United States, renewal procedures for older drivers include the following:

• Shorter renewal intervals (ranging from 2 to 8 years) for drivers over a specified age, typically 65 or 70
• A requirement that older drivers renew their licenses in person rather than electronically or by mail
• Tests that are not routinely required of younger drivers (such as vision and road tests).