Can you be too old to drive in Missouri? Here are state guidelines for elder drivers
Once you hit retirement age, your days are finally free to cruise the roads. But driving can also get more dangerous at older ages.
People 65 and older account for nearly 21% of the licensed drivers in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Recent data shows that in the last three years, 18% of driver fatalities and serious injuries involve drivers ages 65 and older.
This number might rise even higher soon, since the senior proportion of Missouri drivers is expected to increase to 24% by 2025.
Driving can be riskier for older people because they are typically more at risk for physical and cognitive impairments that limit their ability to drive, the MoDOT-led Missouri Coalition for Road Safety says.
Are there restrictions in place that limit older Missouri drivers from driving? How old is too old to drive in the state? Here’s what state law says.
Can I be too old to drive in Missouri?
There is no age where you are considered too old to drive in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.
You will have to renew your license more often after you have reached 70 years old. The department of revenue requires people 70 or older to renew their license every three years. Each time they renew, they are required to take road sign recognition and vision tests.
People ages 60-69 have to renew their license every six years, and are not required to take additional tests when they renew.
Can driving restrictions be placed on older drivers?
The Missouri Department of Revenue can impose additional requirements or restrictions on older drivers, according to online legal encyclopedia Nolo.com. Some of the requirements include:
- An additional outside rearview mirror on a vehicle
- Driving during daylight only
- Driving vehicles with automatic transmission or power steering
- Driving at speeds no more than 45 mph
- Driving area restricted to a 25-mile radius
- Supports to ensure a proper driving position
- Mechanical devices on vehicle, such as a foot-operated emergency brake
Is driving at an older age more dangerous?
State requirements and insurance guidelines involving the elderly are most likely a result of the accidents associated with drivers 65 or older.
Insurance company Progressive says that insurance rates for drivers over the age of 75 are higher because they’re at a higher risk of getting in a car accident. 2022 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that 20% of traffic accidents involved this segment of the population.
The Insurance Information Institute suggests that fatalities and injuries involving older drivers are a result of their increased susceptibility to injuries and slower reflexes and vision impairment.
Even though this segment of drivers is significantly smaller than younger drivers, “older drivers are keeping their licenses longer and driving more miles than in the past,” the consumer-focused publication said.
Are there signs that someone’s losing their ability to drive?
There are physical signs that can show that an elderly person is losing their ability to drive. The NHTSA says changes in vision, physical fitness and reflexes may cause safety concerns. Here are some signs that the NHTSA says to look for that can weaken someone’s driving ability:
Vision
- You have problems reading highway and street signs or recognizing someone you know across the street.
- You have trouble seeing lane lines and other pavement markings, curbs, medians, other vehicles and pedestrians.
- You experience more discomfort at night from the glare of oncoming headlights.
Physical fitness
- You have trouble looking over your shoulder to change lanes or looking left and right to check traffic at intersections.
- You have trouble moving your foot from the gas to the brake pedal or turning the steering wheel.
- You have fallen down — not counting a trip or stumble — once or more in the previous year.
- You walk less than one block per day.
- You can’t raise your arms above your shoulders.
- You feel pain in your knees, legs or ankles when going up or down a flight of stairs.
Reflexes
- You feel overwhelmed by all of the signs, signals, road markings, pedestrians and vehicles that you must pay attention to at intersections.
- Gaps in traffic are harder to judge, making it more difficult to turn left at intersections or to merge with traffic when turning right.
- You take medications that make you sleepy.
- You often get lost or become confused.
- You experience dizziness, seizures or loss of consciousness.
- You aren’t confident that you can handle the demands of high speeds or heavy traffic.
- You are slow to see cars coming out of driveways and side streets or to realize that another car has slowed or stopped ahead of you.
