Drivers' Licenses

A driver’s license is considered a privilege and a person’s license may be recalled or suspended for a variety of reasons. The privilege of driving may be revoked upon a determination of incompetence. The privilege may also be revoked if a physician finds that a person has a condition that prevents him or her from safely operating a motor vehicle. There are a number of common physical changes that may occur with age and may affect vision or hearing or reaction time, all of which affect may a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely, particularly on the highway or at night. Some medical conditions and some medications also affect the ability to drive. Seniors should also be aware that there have been changes in the traffic rules in recent years.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), a number of drivers over age 45 are chosen at random each month for retesting at the time of license renewal and are required to undergo vision and physical exams by their doctors. If the need is indicated by those tests, the driver may be required to take a driver’s examination. Also, PennDOT receives confidential reports from doctors and family members concerned about a medically incapacitated person’s ability to drive; in that case, PennDOT will initiate an evaluation process and may add restrictions to the person’s license, or recall it, or may ask the person to provide more specific medical information or to complete a driver’s examination.

If a person’s license has been recalled or suspended, an appeal can be filed in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. The appeal will not postpone the recall of a driver’s license and the person still must turn over his or her license to the Bureau. A hearing will be held in court about sixty (60) days from when the appeal was filed. The attorney for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will argue that the license should remain revoked based upon the medical evidence of the person’s doctor or psychologist. (Note that the “confidential” report of a physician or family member may be admitted as evidence in these legal proceedings.) A person can challenge this argument by presenting reports of other doctors or by passing a road test given by a driving rehabilitation center like Chestnut Hill Hospital or Bryn Mawr Hospital. They make a determination whether the person can or cannot drive.

If the person is successful in his or her appeal, a letter is sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the license is returned and reinstated. If unsuccessful, the person can appeal to a higher court, but remember that filing another appeal will not reinstate the license until the next court decision.

The good news is that there is a wealth of information and support available to older drivers who wish to continue to drive safely, and for their concerned family members and friends. There are safe driving programs and courses available through several organizations which may qualify the driver for a discount on his or her auto insurance premium. Organizations which offer such training courses include: American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) (717-238-2277); American Automobile Association (AAA) (877-457-0711; www.aaamidatlantic.com); National Safety Council (800-345-9772); and PennDOT (800-932-4600; www.penndot.com). Many informational brochures and guides are available from these organizations as well as from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.nhtsa.dot.gov), the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the American Optometric Association.