Can you be too old to drive in SC? Here’s what state law says about licenses
Aging is inevitable and can impact all facets of a person’s life, including their time on the road.
“Most older people are capable and have a lifetime of valuable driving experience. For these reasons, decisions about a person’s ability to drive should never be based on age alone,” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states.
But cognitive, visual and physical impairments can contribute to driving difficulties for older people. Not all seniors have such impairments, but it’s more common with age. Additionally, people may take more medications as they age, which can influence driving capabilities.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and damage in crashes, increased impairments among older drivers are associated with an increased risk of crash involvement.
Are there legal limitations for older drivers? Can the state restrict your license? Here’s what South Carolina law says.
Can you be too old to drive in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, there’s no age limit for senior drivers. In the state, a driver must renew their license and take a vision test every eight years, regardless of age.
Still, aging can impact a person’s driving. According to SCDMV, senior drivers may have less keen hearing and eyesight, slower judgment, weakened dexterity and poor familiarity with more recent rules and regulations.
While there isn’t a certain age when South Carolina drivers must surrender their licenses, SCDMV recommends consulting a doctor and potentially getting your driving skills evaluated by a SCDMV examiner if you:
Need two or three tries to parallel park
Have difficulty distinguishing between objects like a hydrant and a small child, when driving
Have prolonged discomfort to your eyes from the glare from headlights of approaching vehicles at night
Struggle to maintain the pace of other vehicles or other vehicles seem to pass you all the time
Take a long time to get going again after a stoplight turns green
Get an increasing number of minor scrapes or dents on your vehicle
Miss stop signs, highway signs or other traffic indicators
Become confused when unexpected or unfamiliar things happen while you drive
Have difficulty making out objects that are few feet away
Have difficulty determining how far away an approaching vehicle is on the road
Have difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead in the driver’s seat
Potential restrictions
SCDMV can place restrictions on licenses after administering a driving test, but those restrictions are based on medical issues, not age. If the department believes a licensed driver isn’t physically or mentally fit, the SCDMV can consult a medical advisory board established in the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Common restrictions for senior drivers include requiring the driver wear glasses or contacts lenses, limiting driving to daytime, prohibiting driving on interstate highways and requiring outside mirrors, according to a representative for SCDMV.
If a SC driver is unsafe
South Carolina doesn’t have established procedures to report concerns about an elderly person’s driving. However, if you’re worried about an older driver, you can reach out to your local DMV to report that the person may be a hazard on the road. Officials can then review the case.
According to NHTSA, it may be time to stop driving if:
A friend or family member has expressed concern about your driving
You sometimes get lost while driving on routes that were once familiar
You have been pulled over by a police officer and warned about your poor driving behavior, even if you didn’t get a ticket
You have had several moving violations, near misses or actual crashes in the last three years
Your doctor or other health caregiver has advised you to restrict or stop driving
To protect yourself and others, NHTSA recommends aging drivers listen to loved ones’ concerns, be aware of their physical limitations, evaluate interactions and side effects of medications with a doctor and take a mature driver class to stay up-to-date on safe driving practices and new traffic and roadway features.
If you’re in a situation where you’re not as comfortable driving anymore, it’s a good idea to explore alternative transportation options in your community. Carpooling and public transportation are good options and some areas even have free or low-cost programs specifically for transportation for older people.
This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM.