More and more Americans are outliving their ability to drive safely. As a result of impairments in three functions that are important for driving – vision, cognition and motor function – older drivers have a higher crash risk than middle aged adults.
To address this issue, many states have enacted laws that contain specific licensing requirements for older drivers. Right now 33 states and the District of Columbia have special provisions for mature drivers.
Missouri rules for older drivers
- License renewed: Every 6 years for those under age 70; every 3 years for those 70 and older.
- Renewal conditions: In person.
- Vision test: Yes.
- Written test: No (unless license has been expired for more than 6 months or a review process indicates).
- Road test: No (unless license has been expired for more than 6 months or a review process indicates).
Illinois rules for older drivers
- License renewed: Every 2 years for those 81 to 86 years, and every year for those 87 and older. Every 4 years for those under age 81.
- Renewal conditions: For those under 75 with a clean driving record and no medical report (based on physician or community member filing a report questioning driving ability or physical or cognitive skills), mail-in, telephone, or online renewal available every other cycle.
- Vision test: Yes.
- Written test: Every 8 years if traffic convictions have occurred.
- Road test: Yes, for those 75 and older.
Driving is a complicated task. It requires people to see and hear clearly; pay close attention to other cars, traffic signs and signals, and pedestrians; and react quickly to events. Drivers must be able to accurately judge distances, speeds, and monitor movement around them.
It’s common for people to have declines in visual, thinking, or physical abilities as they get older. As a result, older drivers are more likely than younger ones to have trouble in certain situations, including making left turns, changing lanes, and navigating through intersections.
Common mistakes of older drivers include:
- failing to yield the right of way
- failing to stay in lane
- misjudging the time or distance needed to turn in front of traffic
- failing to stop completely at a stop sign
- speeding or driving too slowly.
Next week: The Self Assessment & Setting Limitations
This is an excerpt from a post that originally appeared at www.caseydevoti.com.
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