Question: What are the current driver’s license renewal requirements for elderly drivers in Hawaii? It seems as though I am reading about more and more incidents of people crashing through storefronts, almost always (if not always) an elderly driver. I am all for seniors being independent. However, I do feel that more restrictions or additional testing should be administered for driver’s license renewals past a certain age. Something should be done about this before someone gets injured or worse.

Answer: In Hawaii, drivers 72 and older must renew their licenses in person every two years.

"There are no special requirements for elderly drivers that differ from other drivers, except relating to the renewal period for drivers 72 and older," said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.

Drivers 17 to 24 years old are issued four-year licenses, while those 25 to 71 are issued eight-year licenses.

Drivers who renew their licenses after age 72 "must submit to the process," which includes a vision test, every two years, Kajiwara said.

That allows the licensing clerk, "if it is suspected a condition exists that may affect the person’s ability to operate a vehicle, to request a doctor’s report to clear (the applicant) for driving," she said.

But Kajiwara pointed out that a doctor’s report can be requested of anyone whose ability to drive may be questioned, not just seniors.

She said she isn’t aware of any recent proposal to tighten the restrictions.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the rate of crashes among drivers 65 and older has decreased in recent years because of a number of factors, including better health, safer cars and safer roads. Additionally, older drivers tend

to "police" themselves more, while stricter state laws for license renewals "may help."

For more information, go to the NIH’s website on "Older Drivers": 1.usa.gov/1BgGeSq.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meanwhile, has information and resources for older drivers: 1.usa.gov/1NLbeE2.

Varied Restrictions

We did a quick check on driver licensing requirements for older drivers in other states and see they range from none (17 states) to more frequent renewals, required in-person renewals with vision and/or road tests, and a doctor’s certification that an applicant is fit to drive.

Here’s a sampling of what the situation is elsewhere:

» States with no specific rules for older drivers: Alaska, Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.

» District of Columbia: Drivers 70 and older are required to have a vision test at each renewal; a possible reaction test; and certification by a physician that the applicant is physically and mentally competent to drive. At age 75, applicants may be required to complete a written and/or road test.

» Illinois: Drivers 69 to 80 must renew their license every four years; drivers 81 to 86, every two years; and drivers 87 or older, annually. Those 74 and older cannot renew by mail, and those 75 and older must pass a road test.

» Texas: You can’t renew by mail or online beginning at age 79, and at 85, applicants have to renew every two years.

In two states it’s an advantage to be an older driver. Oklahoma discounts the licensing fee for drivers age 62 to 64 and waives them for those 65 and older, while Tennessee reduces fees for drivers 60 and older who obtain licenses with no photos.

Meanwhile, there is no uniform age at which someone is considered to be an "older" driver.

The ages at which "older driver" requirements kick in are as low as 40 (Maryland and Maine), 50 (Oregon) and 54 (North Carolina) and include 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 70, 72, 75, 79 and 80.

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