Vermont Mature Driver Resources

Welcome to the Vermont Mature Driver page!

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles strives to keep mature drivers on the road as long as possible with a primary concern of safety to all. Whether you are a senior, family member, or concerned friend, you have an important opportunity to make the roads of Vermont a safer place to drive.

Public Transit Section

The Public Transit Section provides financial and technical assistance to transit districts, transit authorities, municipal transit systems, and non-profit public transit systems. This function is carried out through the administration of state and federal programs relating to general public transportation and transit programs specific to the needs of senior citizens and persons with disabilities.  For more information click here.

Warning Signs of Unsafe Driving

If you fear the senior in your life may be a hazard on the road, encourage him or her to visit the AAA Senior Driver site to use their Self-Rating Tool. You may also assess their driving ability by reviewing the following warning signs:

• Diminished eyesight.
• Suffered stroke or heart attack.
• Difficulty negotiating sharp turns and intersections.
• Hesitation over right-of-way decisions.
• Becoming lost on familiar routes.
• Feeling nervous or exhausted after driving.
• Receiving traffic violations or found at-fault in crashes.
• Neglecting to buckle the seat belt.
• Difficulty moving foot between pedals.
• Difficulty merging onto freeways or turning onto busy streets.
• Relying only on mirrors rather than turning fully to check blind spots.
• Missing stop signs and traffic signals.
• Frequently weaving, straddling, and drifting into other lanes without signaling.
• Attempting to turn from the wrong lane.
• Receiving frequent honks from other motorists.
• Finding scrapes and dents on vehicles, mailboxes, and other stationary objects.

These are just a few of the many warning signs of unsafe driving. If you feel the senior may present a hazard on the road, it may be time for the senior driver to give up the keys. This can be a very difficult call for you to make, especially if the senior is a parent or other close figure used to having their independence. What you must keep in mind is their safety and the safety of others must come first.

Requesting a Driver Re-Examination

If appropriate evaluations and recommendations have been made and the senior driver continues to refuse handing over the keys, you may make a request to the DMV asking for a re-examination of the driver. You may send a written request or an email to the attention of the DMV Commissioners Office. Your request must include:

• Driver's name
• Driver's date of birth
• Driver's address
• Your name
• Your contact information (mailing address and phone number)
• Your relationship to the driver
• Reason for wanting a re-examination of the driver (this must be specific and should include details of any personal observations)

DMV Re-Examinations

A re-examination is when a person's driving skills must be reevaluated based on one or more factors, including the driver's physical or mental condition, or driving record. A re-examination may be recommended by a family member, physician, or public safety officer. Other times, information in a license renewal application, on a driving record or on a disabled parking placard application may prompt a re-examination.

The re-examination involves the evaluation of an individual by a DMV examiner. It consists of a vision test and a driving test. A written test may be required depending on specific circumstances. To prepare for the test you may wish to enroll in a driving school to brush up on your skills. Following the re-examination, the examiner will decide whether any action should be taken regarding your driving privilege, such as restrictions, suspension or revocation.

License Restrictions

Sometimes, a physical or mental condition can impair a driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The most common of these conditions is poor vision; others include cognitive skills like memory, coordination and flexibility.

In some circumstances drivers may have a restriction placed on their license. The types of restrictions vary, and are based on the results of the vision test, driving test, and the examiner's assessment. A restricted license is intended to ensure that you are driving within your abilities. Some of the possible license restrictions are those that:

• Require eyeglasses or corrective contact lenses to be worn
• Require special mechanical devices (Special Brakes, Hand Controls, or Other Adaptive Devices)

See Also

DMV Rule No. 7. Special Examinations

DMV Rule No. 8. Eye Standards for Operating a Motor Vehicle

DMV Rule No. 14. Physical Conditions as Pertains to Fainting Spells, Blackouts or Any Other Reason Causing a Period of Unconsciousness