MOTOR VEHICLES; LEGISLATION; ELDERLY;

MOTOR VEHICLES - LICENSES;

Connecticut laws/regulations;

You asked if Connecticut has any special testing or other requirements for elderly drivers. You also wanted to know what requirements Florida has.

Connecticut has no special requirements that apply only to elderly drivers renewing drivers’ licenses, but anyone who is at least age 65 has the option to renew his license for a two-year rather than the normal six-year period (CGS § 14-41a). This shorter renewal period is not mandatory; it is at the licensee’s option. (Connecticut is converting from a four-year driver’s license to a six-year license. As licenses are renewed, some are currently issued for four years and others for six. )

Connecticut law requires every licensee, regardless of age, to undergo a vision screening prior to every second license renewal. This requirement was scheduled to begin on July 1, 2003, but the implementation was postponed for two years, until July 1, 2005 during the recent special budgetary session (SB 2001 § 34, June 30 Special Session).

Florida currently has no special license renewal requirements for elderly drivers. However, beginning in 2004, it will require any driver who is age 80 or older to submit to a vision test at a Department of Motor Vehicles office or, if applying for a renewal by mail, a test administered by a licensed physician or optometrist who must send the results to the licensing agency. Florida allows drivers to renew their licenses by mail or via the internet for up to two successive renewals. Licenses are issued for six years if the person has a clean driving record (no license suspensions for the last seven years or no convictions for driving violations for three years). Otherwise a license is renewed for a four-year period. The Florida legislation establishing the vision testing requirement (SB 52) also requires the licensing agency to conduct a study to develop a comprehensive approach to licensing drivers. Among other things, the study must look at the implementation and effect of the vision screening requirements and the availability of alternative forms of transportation for people who can no longer safely drive.

We are attaching a copy of OLR Report 2002-R-0021 for your use. It provides extensive discussion of elderly driver issues including states that have special requirements, recent history of proposed legislation in Connecticut, and accident statistics.

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