Summary of Medical Advisory Board Practices
AAMVA is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and their contractor to review Medical Advisory Boards and related programs of driver licensing agencies throughout the United States. All states have completed a survey on medical-related programs and practices. NHTSA's contractor has provided a report and appendices summarizing each licensing agency’s responses.
Model Driver Screening & Evaluation Program: Guidelines for Motor Vehicle Administrators
The Model Driver Screening and Evaluation Program: Guidelines for Motor Vehicle Administrators is a NHTSA sponsored resource (with cooperation from AAMVA) for jurisdictions wishing to introduce or update a driver screening program.
One of the program’s overriding concepts is keeping drivers on the road as long as they are safe. Key features of the DMV model program include:
- Coordinating activities to detect and intervene with functionally impaired drivers within a single unit, ideally a medical advisory board or its equivalent
- Periodically reviewing the functional status of drivers
- Educating the driving public
- Training physicians and the medical community to understand the link between functional status and driving risk
- Establishing an advisory committee or consortium to help establish and periodically review program procedures.
NCHRP Guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Older Drivers
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program has published NCHRP Report 500, Volume 9: A guide for Reducing Collisions Involving Older Drivers. The Guide outlines a variety of strategies that can assist DMV administrators and highway engineers in addressing older drivers' special needs while improving safety for all road users. The strategies include identifying older drivers who are at increased risk of crashing and appropriate interventions, improving the driving competency of older adults in the general driving populations, and more.
NCUTLO Reporting of Driver Impairment Model Law
The National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO) has developed a model law called Reporting of Driver Impairment. This model authorizes - but does not require – physicians and other health care providers to notify the department of motor vehicles in writing within 30 days with the full name, date of birth and address of people 15 years of age or older diagnosed as having a disease, disorder, disability or condition which may impair driving to a degree that precludes the safe operation of a motor vehicle, and which is:
- Uncontrollable (either through medication, therapy or surgery; or by driving device or technique);
- Controllable, but the patient does not comply with the physician’s recommendations for treatment or restricted driving; or
- The extent of driver impairment is unknown but potentially significant.
The statute protects a physician or other health care provider who make such a report from civil or criminal liability.
Under the model, the DMV refers the case of any licensee or applicant for a license to a Medical Advisory Board for an advisory opinion if the Department believes that allowing that person to drive would be contrary to public safety and welfare because of an existing or suspected physical or mental condition. The model then covers various licensing actions by the Department.
NTSB Medical Oversight Recommendations
The National Transportation Safety Board’s interest in the medical oversight of noncommercial drivers stems from its examination of six noncommercial vehicle accidents in which a driver’s medical condition played a role. The Safety Board has also investigated a substantial number of commercial vehicle and school bus accidents involving drivers with impairing or potentially impairing medical conditions.
Strategies for Medical Advisory Boards and Licensing Review
Final Report, July 2005 - DOT HS 809 874
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