Older Driver Licensing Policies and Practices Database Update

F. Dennis Thomas; Jenna R. Darrah; Lindsey A. Graham

Introduction

In 2009, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a nationwide review of state licensing policies and practices related to older and medically-at-risk drivers¹. The review covered topics such as vision and other license renewal requirements, reporting of medically-at-risk drivers, the medical review process, restrictions that could be placed on a driver’s license, license examiner and staff training, and public outreach efforts to older drivers. The information gathered in the review was used to create the online Driver Licensing Policies and Practices (DLPP) database, which contained details on each state’s policies and practices. The information in the database has not been thoroughly updated since the completion of the project in 2009. The objective of this project was to document current, relevant driver licensing practices and policies for all 50 states and the District of Columbia in order to update and expand the DLPP database.

Methodology

The basic study approach involved using the 2009 DLPP database as the stimulus material for an online survey of state licensing personnel that was supplemented with telephone or email follow-ups by the study staff. Rather than providing all new information, the respondent simply had to verify the accuracy of existing DLPP information. If the information was no longer accurate, the respondent was asked to specify the change and to provide updated information. Information was collected between January and April 2019.

Results

Individual state responses can be found at http://lpp.seniordrivers.org/. Any use of the term “state” applies to all 51 jurisdictions.

References

¹Stutts, J.C. & Wilkins, J.W. (2009). Driver Licensing Policies and Practices: Gearing Up for an Aging Population: Project Summary Report. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.