Medical Considerations

Reporting an Unsafe Driver

To report a driver you feel may no longer be fit to drive, complete a driver evaluation request form, and either take it to a Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) office, or mail it to:

• DMV

• Driver Safety Unit

• 1905 Lana Avenue N.E.

• Salem, Oregon 97314

The form may also be faxed to (503) 945-5329.

Be sure to include the reasons behind your suspicion, including medical information about the driver, or observed behavior. Just because a driver is elderly is not a legitimate reason for the driver to be reexamined.

You must provide your name and address and sign the form. You may request, though, that the DMV shield your identity as long as it is legally able to do so.

After the Driver Safety Unit reviews the information, the driver may need to provide the DMV with a medical report issued by a doctor. The driver may have to
take the vision, knowledge, or road tests again within 60 days of being contacted by the DMV.

In some cases, the DMV may immediately suspend the driver's license.

Reports for Health Care Professionals

Medical professionals may chose to report a patient by using the voluntary driver evaluation request form, or the mandatory form for cases in which the patient's condition is "severe and uncontrollable" and cannot be corrected.

The DMV has a medically-at-risk driver section specifically to help medical professionals in determining the proper action to take.

Additional Information

The state provides a helpful guide for elderly drivers and their family members or caregivers concerning driver safety.

Readers will learn about transportation alternatives for senior drivers, the impacts of aging on the ability to drive safely, and knowing when it's time to turn in your driver's license.

Seizures and Other Medical Conditions

When you apply for or renew a driver's license, you'll be asked a few health-related questions concerning your ability to drive safely. If your answers indicate a potential problem, you'll need to provide proof to the DMV that you are still fit to drive before you'll be eligible to receive your license.

Depending on the situation, you may need to supply the DMV with a medical report issued by a doctor, or take the driver's license tests again.

Vision Test

To qualify for an unrestricted license, an applicant needs to have a visual acuity of at least 20/70, along with a minimum field of vision of 110 degrees. You may use corrective lenses to achieve these standards, but if you do, you must always wear the lenses while driving.

In some cases, a restricted license may be granted instead which allows the holder the ability to drive under certain circumstances, such as during daylight. Drivers may need to submit a medical report to the DMV from their eye doctor to obtain the restricted license.

For those with limited vision, the state has a Limited Vision Condition Program allowing drivers to use a bioptic telescopic lens in order to be granted limited driving privileges.

Drivers who reach the age of 50 need to have their vision tested every eight years when renewing their license.