| About Us |
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| Program Background |
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It is the mission of Oregon's Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) to promote safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of this state. In 1999, the Oregon Legislature's concern about aging drivers resulted in authorization for DMV to study the effects of aging on driving ability. An Older Driver Advisory Committee was convened and concluded that chronological age alone does not represent a valid or reliable criterion for assessing the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Similarly, the presence of various medical conditions does not support the conclusion that a driver lacks the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
The work of this group and a subsequent Medical Work Group resulted in a change in the mandatory reporting program. Prior to June 1, 2003, DMV's mandatory reporting program required the reporting of any person "diagnosed as having a disorder characterized by momentary or prolonged lapses of consciousness or control that are or may become chronic." The new mandatory reporting program for medically at-risk drivers is impairment based and requires reporting of "severe and uncontrollable impairments."
The underlying policy of these rules on medically at-risk drivers is to preserve the independence, dignity and self-esteem that results from providing one's own mobility, so long as it is possible to do so without risk to oneself or others. It is also our objective to support the relationship between a primary care provider (PCP) and a patient. A PCP may assist a patient in recognizing diminishing driving skills, leading to self-regulation or driving cessation as the patient's condition requires.
Oregon's approach to addressing medical impairments that impact driving is both comprehensive and fair. DMV's reporting system addresses people with severe and uncontrollable medical impairments that affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. It does not target people based solely on age, nor on a medical diagnosis or condition.
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