Lansing — Newly proposed legislation in the Michigan Senate would require regular vision tests for drivers over the age of 75 in an effort to ensure elderly motorists are still able to safely navigate the roads.
Senate Bill 847, sponsored by state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-West Bloomfield, was introduced earlier this month and has yet to be discussed in committee.
Bayer said Friday that the legislation was inspired by a constituent who was hit and killed by a 94-year-old driver. But she noted most individuals have elderly family members whose decision to continue driving is a concern; the senator noted she herself has had difficult situations with loved ones who should have given up their keys.
“I’ve heard so many stories now since I started talking about it; it’s everywhere,” Bayer said. “It’s really hard for a person to get their parent to stop driving. It’s so hard.”
The American Association for Retired People (AARP) Michigan expressed opposition to the legislation, arguing it targets drivers solely on the basis of age without consideration of an individual’s ability.
“Michigan should focus on individualized, evidence‑based approaches—such as reviewing driving records or addressing specific medical concerns—rather than policies that restrict independence, limit access to essential services, and discriminate against older residents,” said Jason Lachowski, associate state director for AARP Michigan.
The legislation in question requires a driver who is 75 years of age or older and who is seeking to renew or obtain a driver’s license to appear in person at the secretary of state’s office at least once every four years. Before that individual is issued a license, he or she would be required to pass a vision test, a driving skills test and a written knowledge test.
An applicant who is 85 or older must pass the same tests in person at least once a year, according to the bill.
Under current Michigan law, drivers are required to renew their license every four years but, so long as they have a good driving record, they generally do not have to take additional tests for that renewal. There are no additional requirements for elderly drivers.
Requirements for elderly drivers in other states vary, but roughly 20 other states have some form of requirements specific to elderly drivers. Some have shorter renewal periods for elderly individuals, others have vision or road test requirements and others require elderly individuals to renew only in person, according to Americans for Older Driver Safety.
Novi crash spurs legislation
Bayer said the legislation is in part inspired by a resident who called her office after his wife was struck and killed by a 94-year-old driver in 2024. The call with that resident, months after the incident, was extremely difficult and made clear the need for change, she said.
“He said, ‘I thought maybe this could help someone else,'” Bayer said of his decision to share his story. “He asked us to do something.”
Christopher Thexton told CBS Detroit that he had called Bayer’s office to advocate for changes to the law after his wife was hit and killed by an elderly driver in 2024.
Phyllis Stafford was 94 when she struck Sarah Jane Thexton of Novi in a three-car crash on South Wixom Road on Oct. 3, 2024. Last year, the 95-year-old Milford Township woman pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor in relation to the incident.
Thexton had been stopped in traffic behind another vehicle when Stafford failed to stop and struck Thexton’s vehicle, which hit the car in front of her. Thexton exited her car and was standing near the driver’s door when Stafford’s vehicle accelerated and ran over Thexton.
As of 2024, 26% of the state’s drivers were 65 years of age or older, according to data compiled by Michigan Traffic Crash Facts.
Those drivers over the age of 65 — more than 1.9 million — made up 12.2% of the drivers in all crashes in 2024 and 18.7% of the drivers in fatal crashes that year, the report said.
Bayer noted that her grandfather was in a property damage crash at the age of 85, after which he never drove again. And another relative, she said, was told by a doctor to stop driving, continued doing so, and later hit a bicyclist.
The state shouldn’t have to wait for a crash to show up on an elderly person’s record in order to act on the issue, she said.
“You shouldn’t wait until someone gets run over or gets in a crash or kills somebody and then take away the license,” Bayer said. “It’s not a terribly inconvenient thing to go into the office.”
Current law requires a vision test at in-person renewal
Under current law, drivers take a vision test when they receive their first license and whenever they renew a license in the branch office. Drivers largely can renew online, by mail or at kiosks, but must renew in person every 12 years, according to Samantha May, a spokeswoman for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office.
The Secretary of State’s Office “has the authority under the Michigan Vehicle Code to reexamine drivers and can restrict, suspend, or revoke driving privileges based on the results,” May said. “A request of driver evaluation form can be submitted to the department by law enforcement, medical professionals, (Secretary of State) staff, adult protective services, concerned citizens, friends, or family.”
But age cannot be the basis of those requests for driver evaluation under current law, May said.
As recently as December, Benson released information during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week on driver re-assessments and refreshers; the impact of medications or health problems on driving; local public transit options; how to refer an unsafe driver for a reexamination; and strategies for conversations around discontinuing driving.
The Department of State, which would handle the additional testing Bayer is proposing, has not taken a position on the legislation, May said.
Under Bayer’s bill, the cost of the additional tests at the secretary of state’s office would be borne by the state to ease the renewal process for elderly drivers.
Bayer said she’s uncertain whether the bill will advance in the current divided Legislature, but she was hopeful the bill would at least start a conversation around the issue.
“All it’s going to cost you is a little bit of your time,” Bayer said. “If you’re still perfectly fine to drive, you don’t lose your license.”
eleblanc@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan lawmaker wants more vision, driving tests for drivers over 75
Reporting by Beth LeBlanc, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
