STAY SAFE AND INDEPENDENT

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STAY SAFE AND INDEPENDENT

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety
• Driver Vehicle Services

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DRIVER VEHICLE SERVICES

• EVALUATION
• Jody Oscarson, Driver Evaluation Supervisor
• jody.oscarson_at_state.mn.us

• EXAMINATION
• Deb Carlson, Exam Program Manager
• debra.carlson_at_state.mn.us

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Different ways DVS is made aware of issues

• Medical community
• Family
• Neighbors
• Law Enforcement
• Legal Community

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What you should know

• Doctors are protected under statute 171.131 from
  liability, civil or criminal if they report a
  person that isnt physically qualified to drive.
• Family members are protected under the Department
  of Public Safetys data privacy act. We will not
  give out their information to the driver.
• Anyone else we have to give out the information
  to the driver.

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Once DVS receives this information we take
appropriate action which can be

• Cancel privileges only from doctor
• Send for written and/or road test
• Set up for an evaluation usually seen within
  2-3 weeks

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Evaluation

• Meet with an evaluator
• Evaluator reviews medical history
• Reviews information with driver
• May discuss with family, if available
• Reviews driving laws with driver

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Decision

• Evaluator may request written, road, vision and
  doctor statement
• Driver is given 30 days to comply

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VISION SCREENING

• Purpose
• To ensure that those with insufficient vision
  take the steps required to achieve the best
  vision possible
• To deny driving privileges to those whose vision
  is likely to interfere with the safe operation of
  motor vehicles

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VISION REQUIREMENTS

• To Qualify For License
• Visual acuity of 20/40 or better, with either one
  usable eye or with both eyes, with or without
  corrective lenses
• Visual field of 105 degrees or greater in the
  horizontal diameter with either one usable eye or
  with both eyes

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VISION RESTRICTIONS

• When Vision Acuity Is
• 20/50 Maximum speed 55 mph
• 20/60 Maximum speed 50 mph
• 20/70 Maximum speed 45 mph
• No freeway, expressway or
• limited access highway with a
  
• speed limit of more than 45 mph

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OTHER RESTRICTIONS

• In Addition To Restricted Speeds
• Certain roads
• Area limitations
• Daylight only
• Additional mirrors

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PHYSICIAN STATEMENT

• Possible Restrictions
• Daylight Only
• No Freeways
• Distance allowed
• Miles per hour
• Certain roads
• Adaptive equipment

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Vision Physician Statements

• When required, the vision statement and/or
  physicians statement must be submitted before
  Road Test is administered.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST

• Purpose
• To evaluate drivers knowledge and understanding
  of Minnesota traffic laws and road signs.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST

• Process
• No appointment necessary (unless oral)
• 40 multiple choice and true or false questions
• Questions from information in drivers manual
• Passing is 80
• Automated test machines
• Paper test
• Oral test
• One test attempt per day

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ROAD TEST

• Driver is evaluated on
• Obeying rules of the road
• Ability to drive a motor vehicle safely under
  normal traffic conditions
• Awareness of risks and proper reactions
• Ability to use good observation skills

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EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION

• Locate and demonstrate the operation of
• Seat adjustment
• Seat belt
• Emergency (4-Way) flashers
• Windshield wipers
• Headlights Low beam and High beam
• Parking (Emergency) Brake
• Defroster Fan controls
• Horn
• Mirror Adjustment
• Proof of Vehicle Insurance

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ROAD TEST PROCESS

• Test attempts fees
• Driver Training Requirement
• Area Special Test
• Cancellation
• Provide suggestions for alternate modes of
  transportation

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CHECK YOUR OWN DRIVING

• The following questions are common indicators of
  driving skill deterioration among older drivers.
• If two or three of these questions apply, closer
  attention needs to be paid to the individuals
  driving ability.

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CHECK YOUR OWN DRIVING

• Do you need two or three tries when parking your
  car parallel to the curb in a parking space?
• Have you encountered difficulty in distinguishing
  between objects such as a hydrant and a small
  child when driving at night?

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CHECK YOUR OWN DRIVING

• Do you have trouble maintaining pace with other
  cars or do they seem to be passing you all the
  time?
• Does it take you quite a long time to get going
  again after the light has turned green?

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CHECK YOUR OWN DRIVING

• Are you getting an increasing number of minor
  scrapes and dents on your car?
• Are you missing stop signs, highway signs and
  other traffic indicators?
• Do other cars honk at you?

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CHECK YOUR OWN DRIVING

• Do you find yourself becoming confused when
  unexpected or unfamiliar things happen while you
  are driving?
• Do you have trouble making out objects that are a
  few feet away?

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CHECK YOUR OWN DRIVING

• When a car is approaching you on the road, do you
  have trouble judging how far away it is at a
  given moment?
• When you look straight ahead in the drivers
  seat, do you have difficulty seeing the sides of
  the road?

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