Medical Review Process and License Disposition of Drivers Referred by Law Enforcement and Other Sources in Virginia

NHTSA · 2011 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report evaluates the medical review process and licensing outcomes for drivers referred to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) due to suspected medical or functional impairments. The study was motivated by the projected surge in older drivers, who are at higher risk for age-related medical conditions and medication use that may impair driving safety. With the Baby Boom generation reaching retirement age, licensing agencies face increasing challenges in identifying and intervening with medically at-risk drivers to maintain road safety while preserving mobility. The research analyzed two distinct samples: 100 drivers referred by law enforcement officers between December 2007 and May 2008, and 105 drivers referred by seven other sources (courts, physicians, family members, self-reporting customers, DMV staff, the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, and general traffic court) between October 2009 and January 2010. Data were extracted from DMV databases, including medical reports, vision reports, and license dispositions. The Virginia DMV’s process involves notifying drivers to submit medical and vision reports within 30 days; failure to comply results in automatic suspension. Medical evaluators then review reports to determine fitness to drive, potentially ordering additional testing (knowledge, road, or rehabilitation specialist evaluations) or imposing restrictions and periodic reviews. For the law enforcement-referred sample, drivers ranged in age from 17 to 94, with a mean age of 62.9 years. Older drivers (65+) were overrepresented compared to the general driving population. Most referrals (64%) stemmed from crash involvement, while others resulted from traffic stops involving errors such as driving the wrong way or weaving. Among the 100 cases, 28 drivers (28%) failed to submit required medical or vision reports and were suspended. Of the 72 who complied, 21 were suspended due to unacceptable medical or vision reports, primarily citing seizures, cardiovascular disorders, or psychiatric conditions. The remaining 51 drivers were deemed medically fit; however, 29 required additional testing. Of those tested, most retained driving privileges, though many received restrictions (e.g., daytime only, no interstate) or were placed on periodic medical review cycles ranging from three months to two years. Common conditions among those deemed fit included visual disorders, metabolic issues (diabetes), and cardiovascular disorders. The findings highlight the operational mechanics of a state-level medical review program, demonstrating that non-compliance and medical unfitness are significant drivers of license suspension. The study underscores the critical role of referrals in detecting impairment, particularly among older adults, and illustrates the DMV’s tiered approach to intervention, which balances safety through testing and restrictions with the preservation of driving privileges where possible. This analysis provides empirical data on referral outcomes, supporting efforts to refine medical review processes as the population of older drivers continues to grow.

Key finding

Among 100 law enforcement-referred drivers, 28 failed to submit required medical or vision reports resulting in suspension, while 21 submitted reports deemed unacceptable leading to suspension, and 51 were deemed medically fit with various licensing outcomes including restrictions or periodic review.

Methodology

dataset

Sample size: 205

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• licensing policy
• medical conditions
• fitness to drive assessment
• cognitive impairment