Medical Considerations

There are several factors that must be considered when determining your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle within the state of Kansas.

Vision Impairments

Since being able to see clearly is an important part of safe driving, you'll be required to complete short vision screening whenever you apply for or renew your Kansas driver's license. This exam does not take the place of a professional evaluation by a licensed optometrist, but it does provide a general assessment of your eyesight. If you wear corrective lenses, you will be allowed to use the lenses during the test.

Failing the Vision Test

If you do not successfully pass the vision screening, you'll be required to obtain an additional evaluation from the optometrist or ophthalmologist of your choice.

Hearing Impairments

Hearing impairments, contrary to popular belief, do not make someone a poor driver. With a commitment to constant alertness, someone suffering from partial or complete deafness can still safely operate a motor vehicle. However, the Kansas Legislature has authorized the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) to provide Safety Communication Visors to use in vehicles regularly driven by motorists with hearing impairments. The visors, available for a $5 fee, help law enforcement officers or emergency response personnel identify drivers who have special communication needs. Contact KCDHH at (800) 432-0698 or (785) 267-6100 for additional information about how to obtain a visor.

Seizures

The Kansas Department of Revenue (DOR) considers seizures resulting in a loss of consciousness to be a very serious driving impairment. If you suffer from epilepsy or another seizure disorder:

• You will not be allowed to obtain a driver's license until you can demonstrate that your condition is being adequately controlled with medication.

• You must be seizure free for at least six months, unless your seizures are exclusively nocturnal.

• Once you've been granted a license, annual medical updates are needed until you've been seizure free for at least three years.

If your driver's license is denied due to your seizures, you have up to 30 days to appeal the decision. For more information, contact the Kansas DOR at (785) 296-3963.

Older Drivers

Although older drivers have the benefit of years of practical experience, the aging process can present special challenges as well. For example, mature drivers who take prescription medications need to be aware of drowsiness or other side effects that may impact driving ability.

Advanced age alone is not an indicator of an unsafe driver. However, older drivers should be concerned if they notice one or more of the following signs:

• Trouble following traffic signals

• Difficulty remembering how to travel to familiar places

• Trouble making decisions in traffic, such as not knowing when to yield the right of way

• Traveling at incorrect speeds

• Becoming angry or confused while driving

Reporting an Incompetent Driver

If you have concerns about someone who you believe may have a condition that makes him or her unfit to operate a motor vehicle, you are encouraged to contact your nearest driver's license exam station to file a report. In Kansas, all motorists have an obligation to help do their part to keep the state's roads safe.

There's no need to worry about the potential legal consequences of your actions. According to Kansas law, physicians and other individuals who, in good faith, report information concerning the mental or physical condition of another driver, are immune from civil suit for damages suffered as a result of such a report.

Adjusting to Life without a Driver's License

If your driving privileges are removed due to a medical impairment, you don't have to give up your independence. Kansas has an excellent public transportation system. Many community groups are willing to provide transportation assistance for elderly or disabled residents.

If you're concerned about needing a valid source of photo identification, apply for a state-issued identification card for non-drivers. Get this card at the nearest driver's license exam station by presenting two documents proving your identity. Once issued, the card is valid for six years.