Senior Drivers in Florida

August 25, 2019 by McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP

When is it time to stop driving? It’s not an easy question. As we continue to encourage independence in our aging population and hope to stay out of nursing homes and maintain the highest possible quality of life for as long as possible, it can seem counter-productive to restrict older drivers or to face higher testing standards than younger drivers as we age. But to those who have lost loved ones in accidents caused by drivers who can no longer handle the challenges of the road, those arguments can feel empty at best.

Florida Rules for Senior Drivers

Florida has the highest percentage of senior citizens in the country. People 65 and older make up 18% of Florida’s population. So, it comes as no surprise that older drivers have come to the attention of the state. In Florida drivers who are 80 years old or older must:

• Renew their driver’s license every six years rather than the eight years allowed for younger drivers
• Renew in person rather than online
• Pass a vision test

Additionally, family members and others can request an unsafe driver investigation by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision caused by an elderly driver, in Florida, you may be able to recover compensation for your economic and noneconomic losses. Please call McPhillips Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP, or email us today to schedule your free initial consultation.