Medical Considerations

Vision

A driver must have visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one eye to qualify for an unrestricted license. If you wear glasses or contacts to achieve this standard, a restriction is placed on your license. You'll need to use those corrective lenses whenever you get behind the wheel.

In some cases, if you cannot pass the vision test, you may be granted limited driving privileges, such as driving only during daylight hours. Some drivers may have to undergo yearly vision testing in order to keep their license.

Hearing

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may impose restrictions on drivers with hearing difficulties, such as requiring the use of additional mirrors.

Aging Drivers

Nevada does not require any special testing based solely on a driver's age. However, the state can force you to undergo additional testing in order to keep a license, should the situation require it. Additionally, drivers 70 years of age and older must submit a satisfactory medical evaluation when renewing a license by mail.

The DMV offers a pamphlet to help elderly drivers deal with the matter of curtailing driving activities, and relinquishing a license. E-mail to request one.

Epilepsy and Diabetes

Drivers with insulin-dependent diabetes or epilepsy may be granted licenses with colored backgrounds to highlight their condition, after providing the DMV with a statement from their doctor declaring the illness.

Physicians must report to the DMV any patient condition that might inhibit the ability to drive safely.

For information about drivers with disabilities, see our article on that very subject.

Reporting an Unsafe Driver

If you're at least 18 years old, you may file a report with the DMV requesting the agency evaluate a blood relative or spouse who you feel may no longer be fit to drive.

Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and relationship to the driver. You'll need to sign the report in front of a notary public or a DMV representative.

To file, you must have either personally observed the driver or have some other evidence which indicates the driver has a mental or physical condition impairing their ability to drive safely. Or, if the person's driving record shows a history of unsafe operation, you may use that as evidence instead.

In either case, a statement from a physician saying the driver should be reexamined must accompany the report.

You may also file by obtaining a statement from a law enforcement officer that indicates the driver should be reevaluated. (Police officers and members of certain state agencies may also begin an investigation by completing a separate form based on their own observations of the driver.)

Although the state will attempt to shield your identity, you may need to testify in person at the driver's administrative hearing. You can't file more than one report on a particular driver during a 12-month period.

After reviewing the report, the DMV will send a written notice to the driver stating that re-testing will be required in order to maintain driving privileges. The DMV may request any combination of tests it feels is necessary to determine if the driver is fit to continue driving.

Once the testing is completed, the DMV may allow the driver to continue operating in the same manner, place limits on driving privileges, or simply revoke the license. Drivers who face restricted or cancelled driving privileges may request a partial or total reinstatement.

If the driver refuses to cooperate with the testing, the DMV may immediately revoke or suspend the license.

Contact Information

To request additional information on these sensitive and important matters, contact the DMV at:

• Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles

• 555 Wright Way

• Carson City, NV 89711

• info@dmv.state.nv.us

• Las Vegas Area: (702) 486-4368

• Reno/Sparks/Carson City: (775) 684-4368

• Rural Nevada: (877) 368-7828 Toll Free

• Central Services Fax: (775) 684-4992

• TDD (Hearing Impaired Only): (775) 684-4904