November 25, 2022 · 0 Comments
By Brian Lockhart
Statistically, you are far more likely to be involved in an auto accident with a younger, less experienced driver.
While older drivers are more cautious and cause fewer accidents on the road, there are health issues that may be a concern when a person of a certain age gets behind the wheel.
There are many octogenarians, even older people who still drive and enjoy their independence, however, once you reach the age of 80, the province mandates that you must renew your driver’s license every two years.
There are several steps you should be aware of when renewing your driver’s license after reaching the age of 80.
You will receive a renewal application form in the mail with instructions on how to renew your license. It should arrive up to 90 days before your license expires.
Before attending your renewal session, you should watch the senior driver education video available on the province’s website and review the Ministry of Transportation Driver’s Handbook, which is available in print format at various retailers.
The next step is to book an appointment to attend a Senior Driver Group Education session.
You can book an appointment by calling 1-800-396-4233. You will be required to provide your driver’s license number. You should also provide information about any language barriers or if you require other accommodations such as a sign-language interpreter.
When you call, you will get the date, time, and location of your session. Sessions are held at various locations across the province.
When you attend your renewal session, you will be required to bring your driver’s license, the license renewal application, if available, corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses you use for driving, and hearing aids if needed.
You will be required to take a vision test. You should wear your eyeglasses or contact lenses you use for driving. If additional medical information is required, you will be notified by mail.
During your session, you will have an opportunity to watch the educational video, complete a vision assessment, and complete a 5-minute in-class screening exercise.
The session requires a brief, non-computerized assessment that allows five minutes to finish, and contains exercises that consist of an in-class assessment relevant to driving. There is also a clock drawing exercise which measures a driver’s capacity to recognize and organize information.
Once you complete the above steps, you may renew your license online or if necessary, visit a ServiceOntario centre.