Politics & Government

Bill Adds Screening for Elderly Georgians to Keep Drivers License

Elderly Georgia drivers would have to have a note from a doctor certifying they are capable of driving in order to keep their license under proposed legislation.

Elderly Georgia drivers would have to face more screening – including a doctor’s note for drivers older than 75 certifying they are capable of driving – in order to keep their license under legislation drafted by an Atlanta-area lawyer.

Christopher Simon told WXIA TV the legislation he proposes is the aftermath of accidents caused by elderly drivers.

One incident was the 2009 death of a kindergarten girl who was hit by an 83-year-old driver as the girl got off a school bus, and a 2007 accident where Cobb County officer Michael McDaniel lost a leg after he was pinned by an 87-year-old driver against an ambulance at an accident scene.

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Do you believe Georgia needs tighter restrictions on older drivers? Tell us your experiences in comments below.

Proponents say the change would allow family members to request a review of their loved one’s status to drive and only affects a small number of seniors who won’t be cleared by their doctors to drive.

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But Victoria Collier, an attorney who advocates for the elderly and disabled, told the TV station that the changes would go too far. The proposal would cost senior citizens too much in added doctor and license fees, trap them in their homes, and picks on elderly who have less voice in society. 

“There are bad drivers of all ages,” Collier said. “It’s a sweeping law that will negatively affect people 75 and above.”

The Georgia Department of Driver Services currently follows these guidelines:

  • Drivers over age 59 can receive a license valid for five years.
  • After age 64, drivers must pass a vision test.
  • Family members, police or members of the general public can ask the DDS to review a driver and determine if their license should be involuntarily surrendered.

Simon’s proposed legislation would require:

  • Drivers age 75 or older to obtain physician certification to show they are physical and mental competent to operate a motor vehicle.
  • From age 81 to 86, the drivers license would expire every two years.
  • After 87, a drivers license will expire every 12 months.
  • Two family members may ask for involuntary surrender of an elderly driver’s license.

According to AAA, more than 84 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have a valid driver's license. Less than half of Americans in the same age group did in the 1970s. They estimate by 2030, there will be close to 60 million people over 65 years old on the road.

Signs of Unsafe Driving

AAA says that there is no certain age at which drivers are unsafe. Often, difficulties come with medical condition. Here are common warning signs of poor driving:

  • Does the senior driver confuse the gas and brake pedals or have difficulty working them? Drivers who lift their legs to move from the accelerator to the brake, rather than keeping a heel on the floor and pressing with the toes, may be losing leg strength.
  • Does the senior driver seem to ignore or miss stop signs and other traffic signals? Perhaps the driver is inattentive or cannot spot the signs in a crowded, constantly moving visual field.
  • Does the senior driver weave between or straddle lanes? Signaling incorrectly or not at all when changing lanes can be particularly dangerous, especially if the driver fails to check mirrors or blind spots.
  • Do other senior drivers honk or pass frequently, even when the traffic stream is moving relatively slowly? This may indicate difficulty keeping pace with fast-changing conditions.
  • Does the senior driver get lost or disoriented easily, even in familiar places? This could indicate problems with working memory or early cognitive decline.


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