15 States are Cracking Down on Older Drivers
 

I ran across this today where 15 states are cracking down on
older drivers and the State of Florida are one of them and how renewal is handled.

See below:



Florida
Florida places a strong emphasis on road safety for older drivers, particularly those aged 80 and above. To ensure continued safe driving practices, drivers in this age bracket must renew their licenses in person, allowing authorities to assess their capabilities firsthand.

This in-person renewal requirement is coupled with a mandatory vision test at each renewal, ensuring that drivers maintain adequate eyesight for safe operation on Florida's roads. By enforcing these rigorous standards, Florida aims to enhance overall public safety and maintain high standards of driver competence across the state.

IL is going in the opposite direction. Currently the only state requiring road tests for drivers over 80, they are looking to eliminate anything that is "ageist".

source

it would be a good idea if Florida tested new drive applicants on the road instead of in a car park.

Be careful what wish for it may affect you in few SHORT years.:highfive:

LOL, my 92 yo, nearly blind and deaf, one armed FIL had no problem renewing just a couple of weeks ago.

I feel EVERY driver should periodically pass both written and driving tests, as well as being tested for hearing and sight.

80 is a lot closer than it used to be!

Right around corner for some of us, I realized time flies when retired. :duck:

“IL is going in the opposite direction.”

IL does everything in the opposite direction from logic. That’s why I’m so thankful to be a long way away from IL.

Florida describes these standards as "rigorous"....

Agree, except for the hearing part. It is legal for a deaf person to get a driver's license in Florida.

I'd also add that periodic testing should become more frequent as a person ages. Say, every three years after a person turns 65, then every 2 years from 74 to 80, then annually thereafter.

Wouldn't want to be a politician in Florida hoping to get elected supporting that proposal :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Why not every year after 70 or 80 or from 16 to 30. State don’t have ability to test people every two years why they issue 5 year driver license. IMO should only be tested every 10 years up to age 70. Then every 5 years testing really about collection of fee anyway.

Considered to other state that just pass them out….:MOJE_whot:

I remember a 60 Minutes segment from years ago (pre internet day) about how easy it was for older drivers to obtain a license in Florida. They actually filmed the clerk helping with the answers to the vision test.

“Florida places a strong emphasis on road safety for older drivers, particularly those aged 80 and above.”

In 7 yrs., when his license comes up for renewal, my currently 87 yr old brother-in- law must “renew …licenses in person, allowing authorities to assess their capabilities firsthand.” And have “a mandatory vision test at each renewal.” Yeah – THAT’S cracking down”

Show me the guidelines/policy/rules used to “assess their capabilities firsthand.” Explain to me & my BIL the qualifications the DVM worker has achieved to “assess their capabilities firsthand.” Tell me which DVM worker is going to stick his or her neck out to deny him a renewal. On, and pleeaasse let me know when FL legislature passes these requirements & Gov. DeSantis signs it.

This FL cracking down??? HAHAHAHA :a040:

In New Mexico drivers 79 and older must renew every year. It used to be 76 but they upped it during the early Covid years. Renewal is free but a vision test is required. The clerks try to chat up older folks to see if they are "all there" plus one must sign a form stating one does not have certain medical issues such as seizures. I imagine physicians and family members can contact the MVD there to get licenses pulled if necessary but I do not know.

I think AARP is going to bat against stricter el4thder regulations.

NM is they state where only about have have automobile insurance. I was stationed in NM for two years OUTRAGEOUSLY high auto insurance. I sure it’s changed since 95?

One day bumble bees can’t fly when they get too old. Those days come quickly now.

Every village driver needs to take a roundabout test, how to park test, and how to drive in the right lane unless your passing test every year and I bet 70% would fail it.
Then every golf cart driver needs to take a golf cart driving test.

Here's what Florida DMV says about renewal:

Driver License Renewal Requirements/Options for Older Drivers - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

This is a sad commentary. I fully support the need for a road test be given during license renewal when a driver reaches a certain age. A drivers license is a right, not a privilege so everyone regardless of age should demonstrate they have the physical ability and the ability to mentally process to operate an auto safely.

Agree. But it’ll never happen. Test anyone 80 and above with hearing, sight and driving test at every renewal.

Florida renews for 4 years so if you’re 86 at renewal you’re good to go until 90.

I don’t know about y’all, but when I first obtained my driver’s license & for many years after, in NY & PA, one HAD to go in person to the DMV office & have an eye exam BEFORE you could pay your renewal fee…EVERY renewal! IMHO EVERYONE should go back to this. No one can be assessed correctly if not in person. Age doesn’t matter. Driving is a PRIVILEGE, NOT a right! If one is unsafe to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle they shouldn’t have a license!

Did you get this backwards?

Seems reasonable to me. Why would you want someone with vision issues doing a car?!

At the risk of others lives
 

And so it should! If you are not safe you should not be on the road.

Compared to renewing online,they are brutal. The worst part is the wait at the DMV

Nah, look it up yourself. People are so lazy these days.

Not a bad idea. I was surprised when I learned that in Fl it’s 8 yrs between renewals. I was also surprised at how easily FL passes the sight impaired.

In OH they recently changed to 8 yrs but only if you’re under age 65. I believe 65 and over is 4 yrs.

60 minutes once firmed an episode in Chicago’s city hall. They asked if they could film an episode about how efficient Chicago City Hall is, the commissioner agreed. When they arrived with their crew they gave many instructions before filming. One such instruction: they instructed a clerk to move a pile of folders from one table against a wall to another table by the window because it would show how outside light would allow for clearer vision, and filmed it. Then when the show aired the narrative stated “now watch as a clerk tries to hide incriminating folders from us, and move them to the shredder”. Yes a shredder was next to the table by the window. The whole show was staged and directed to prove how corrupt Chicago is, not how efficiently it runs. Don’t get me wrong, is Chicago corrupt, you betcha, always has been . But fake filming doesn’t prove anything. Be careful believing anything seen on tv. Why are there so many writers names in the credits of all those reality shows? Yes, 60 minutes had writers too. My bet is that they told that clerk to help the woman with her test.

I'm All For It!!! This will apply to me, and I am fine with it.
 

[QUOTE=Michael G.;2351193]I ran across this today where 15 states are cracking down on
older drivers and the State of Florida are one of them and how renewal is handled.

Many of us are concerned about a loved one who is insisting on driving even though we feel they are no longer able to do so safely--it is very hard to tell a parent, a spouse, or other loved one that they are no longer competent. So, many of us just cross our fingers when they take the car out. Or we have to ask their doctor to please break the news to them so they will listen.
I think the DMV is the right place to deliver that news.

You must be younger than 65 since you are suggesting so many retests. That is too often. I am 78 and have had no accidents but am ok with a retest at 80.

It's absolutely necessary to test older drivers in much more rigorous ways. I applaud this. :bigbow:

I've sometimes thought that as Florida in general is a retirement destination, any clamping down on senior drivers could have a dampening effect on people moving here. Particularly so in TV which puts the "active senior lifestyle" front and center in most advertising.

Testing ALL drivers periodically
 

Excellent suggestion! I drive a grocery delivery truck(no CDL)up north & plan to transfer my job to Groveland. We used to drive buddy routes & I have ridden with a 21 y/o that didn’t know WHY oncoming traffic was honking when she was attempting to turn left on a green light!?!
And, buddy route w/a 78 y/o man who said the white signs w/black lettering were the only legal signs… the others, yellow with black lettering were ‘suggested’ signs!?!?
I DID speak up to both drivers & explained the laws, as I was the sitting duck in the passenger seat. Told the 78 y/o ‘pretend signs’ are not posted on roadways…

Not "suggested signs" and not "pretend signs" but also not "regulator signs." Signs with yellow background are "Warning Signs" according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

FL would not have enough testers for every year (or every 2 years)....too many old folks