For Californians over the age of 70, did you know that you have to take tests more often now should you want to remain behind the wheel? To make sure that seniors over the ripe old age of 70 remain road-worthy and can still handle a car safely, you’ll have to take the DMV test every 5 years, and you’ll have to renew your driver’s license in person.
It may sound like an inconvenience, but it does help with making sure you’re in good shape to stay behind the wheel of a car, with the in-person testing giving the local DMV office a chance to assess whether or not you’re able to drive safely, for your sake and that of other motorists, taking into account your physical and cognitive abilities.
So, with that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the DMV test for seniors over 70, including conditions for the DMV to re-examine senior drivers, medical check-ups that you have to go through, and the all-important vision tests, but for now, we’ll start with what’s required for you to take the test:
1) Required Documents For The Test
When you’re taking the test for seniors over 70 at your local DMV office, you’ll have to bring a few documents when renewing your driver’s license:
- Valid Identification Card – Any government-issued ID card works, so that would include your state ID, or just simply, your current driver’s license.
- Proof Of Residency – Specifically, you’ll have to prove that you have a Californian residency. A good set of paperwork to bring would be your utility bill, rental agreement, and anything else that shows your current address to be in the state of California.
- Medical Certificate – If you have any specific medical ailments, you’ll have to get a certificate from a physician which testifies that despite any underlying conditions, you’re still fit to drive.
Again, as noted earlier, senior drivers (over the age of 70) must renew their driver’s license in person every 5 years. During each renewal process at your local DMV, a re-examination or re-testing might be required, especially if you’ve shown to have any medical concerns, or more so if you have a history of getting into accidents.
2) Conditions For Re-Testing Senior Drivers
Speaking of, what right does the Californian DMV have to re-examine senior drivers? Well, of the many reasons why they’d want to re-test your driving skills and aptitude (most are health-related), these two, in particular, come up more often than not as reasons why the DMV sees it fit to re-test senior drivers over the age of 70:
- Medical Concerns – Any senior driver (over 70) that has a medical condition, crucially if they’d possibly impact your driving ability, such as vision problems, dementia, or physical disabilities, must undergo re-testing at the DMV. As you can imagine, these medical conditions could pose a serious risk if they impact you while you’re behind the wheel, so these tests are designed to make sure that senior drivers can still operate a vehicle, despite these underlying conditions.
- History Of Accidents – Similarly, seniors (over 70) who have a history of traffic violations and accidents might be flagged for needing to take the DMV test, too. Understandably, if you’re regularly getting into trouble out on the road, the DMV has the right to question and review your driving record. In so doing, the Californian DMV will subsequently have to determine if your driving skills have degraded over time, and if you pose a risk when you’re driving.
The Californian DMV test for seniors over 70 will put you through the knowledge test, so that should figure out if you’re (the senior in question) still up-to-date with current traffic laws. On top of that, you’ll have to go through a vision test (more below) to make sure you meet all the required vision standards, before finally ending it off with a driving test, helping to evaluate a senior’s driving skills in the real world.
3) Medical Check-Up And Examination
As I mentioned earlier, it’s recommended for seniors to undergo a thorough health check-up, before you attempt to renew your driver’s license. These examinations will help to identify if you have any health issues that might impair your driving ability and cause safety issues, like reduced reaction times, decreased mobility, or cognitive decline.
Now, if you do have any underlying or pre-existing medical conditions, you’ll have to obtain a medical clearance from a doctor. This clearance confirms that a senior is fit to keep on driving, and it’ll also outline any precautions and restrictions for a senior to safely drive. For example, the doctor might recommend that a particular senior may only drive during daylight hours, or advise them to avoid high-traffic areas.
Some of the medical conditions that might require a senior to request clearance include health issues such as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration; all of which impact your vision. In addition, neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or epilepsy are going to require medical clearance, as are physical disabilities that can impact mobility, like arthritis or injuries that you might’ve sustained.
4) Preparing For A Vision Test
In addition to the aforementioned health check-up, a senior over 70 will also have to take the DMV vision test, designed to ensure that seniors meet the minimum vision standards for safe driving. In summary, this includes making sure that you have sufficient peripheral vision and the ability to see clearly at various distances, mainly to ensure that you recognize road signs, hand signals, pedestrians, as well as other vehicles.
When you’re prepping for the vision test, make sure to bring your prescribed glasses (or, a set of contact lenses) to the DMV. It’s fairly straightforward, and the test mainly revolves around reading an eye chart, as well as a few other tests for testing your peripheral vision and depth perception. The staff at your local DMV office will guide you each step of the way through the tests, so there’s no need to worry there.
Now, if a senior doesn’t meet the minimum vision standards for safe driving, you may have to be referred to an eye specialist. You’ll only be able to retake the DMV’s vision test once again after getting the appropriate treatment, such as getting a new pair of glasses or undergoing cataract surgery. Aside from that, the DMV also has the right to issue a restricted license if any vision correction is needed, specifying that a senior must wear corrective lenses while driving.