driver license renewal;
education; testing
House Bill 2079 requires the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to establish an “assessment center pilot program” in Maricopa County by January 1, 2003. The assessment center is a physician supervised health care entity providing competency and physical testing for licensed drivers of any age if MVD has good cause to believe that the driver is incapable of operating a motor vehicle or is otherwise not qualified. As of July 1, 2004, HB 2079 requires drivers seventy-five years and older to attend educational sessions for the first moving violation reported to MVD within a twelve month period. Drivers in this age group receiving a second moving violation within one year are required to submit to an examination or assessment as prescribed by MVD. HB 2079 also reduces the validity period of a driver’s license from five years to two years for drivers seventy-five years of age and older.
Current statute provides that the department may use information received from physicians psychologists, law enforcement officers, other governmental agencies, accident report information or other information received by the department to determine if a driver should be required to submit to an examination of driving skills or undergo a review of their medical condition. Based on the examination results, the department may permit the person to retain full driving privileges, restrict the person’s driving privilege or suspend or revoke a person’s license.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), given the number of miles driven, drivers 75 years of age and older have higher rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes than other drivers in other age groups except teenagers, and that per licensed driver, fatal crash rates rise sharply at age 70 and older. The FHA also states that about half of fatal crashes involving drivers 80 years of age and older occur at intersections and involve more than one vehicle. This compares with 23% among drivers up to fifty years of age.
The Administration on Aging reports that the proportion of older drivers on our streets will increase significantly as will the number of vehicle miles driven. Based on current rates, the number of elderly traffic fatalities will more than triple by the year 2030. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reports that older drivers have a crash rate second only to that of teenagers.
According to the AARP 55 Alive Driver Safety Program, drivers age 55 and older generally drive fewer miles each year than younger drivers. Therefore when annual miles driven are considered, drivers age 55 and older do better than younger drivers, but not as well as drivers age 35-54. AARP states that failure to yield the right-of-way and improper left turns are the number one and two problems for older drivers. The common aging factors, which affect older drivers, are loss of visual acuity, diminished hearing, and changes in physical strength, psychological changes and slower reaction time.
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Action Plan on Aging and Mobility Recommendation # 19 pertaining to “Older Driver Competency” states that a “pilot driver screening battery” should be developed, and upon completion and evaluation of the pilot, develop and implement Cognitive/Physical Testing Centers across the Valley using certified geriatric physicians and certified driving specialists. Recommendation #21 states that development of a Comprehensive Driver Intervention Program is necessary and should include components such as assessment, education, retraining, mobility management and linkage to other services.
The states of Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Iowa, Illinois and Hawaii issue driver’s licenses valid from two to three years for older drivers between 65 to 80 years of age. Several jurisdictions, such as the District of Columbia, Illinois, New Hampshire and Nevada require additional testing or review of drivers over 75 years of age.
The Enforcement Subcommittee of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Council has endorsed this legislation.