California seniors find it difficult to give up the car keys. Aging plays havoc on independence and the older we get the more we lose.  It’s a known fact that accident rates increase after the age of 70, and that impacts some 70 million Americans who are still hanging onto their car keys in the U.S.

The state of California implemented programs to improve the safety of older adults who want to maintain the independence by getting behind the wheel. They are accelerating these programs to renew licenses by way of road tests, eye tests or written exams; an act has been passed to improve the safety of seniors on the road.

The California legislature mandates that all persons age 70 and above must renew their driver licenses in person and can’t renew by mail. If they pass a vision test and the written test, and show no other signs of emotional or physical distress, they are licensed for another five years. They must show up again in person five years later to renew, DMV spokesman Steve Haskins.

The Department of Motor Vehicles developed the mature driver improvement programs throughout the state which you can find by visiting http://bit.ly/3fki3i. Many other resources for senior drivers are available on this page.

If someone in your family is endangering himself and others and you can’t get him to turn over the keys, one approach is to fill out a Request for Driver Reexamination with the DMV. The form is available at www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/ds/ds699.htm. You must sign the form, but you can also ask that the DMV not divulge your identity.

Home Instead Senior Care serving elders and seniors in San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Clara and Saratoga home care 408-370-6360.