Want to drive after age 75? Why you’ll need a medical exam in Alberta
In Alberta, seniors are required to have a mandatory driver medical exam to retain their licence. Medical exams are required at:
- age 75
- age 80
- every two years after the age of 80
The medical exam is conducted by a medical professional, and the results can determine if you are allowed to continue to drive. As a registered licence holder, the government will send you a letter before your 75th birthday reminding you of the need to have an exam.
It doesn’t mean you have to give up driving either! As the AMA website says:
“Getting older doesn’t mean your time behind the wheel is over; you might simply require a few changes to the way you approach driving.”
Why do Canada’s senior drivers need a medical exam?
The medical exam is to judge if you are medically fit to continue driving, and follows a national code, according to the Alberta.ca website.
“We use Canada’s National Safety Code (NSC) –Standard 6 – Determining Driver Fitness in Canada. Standard 6 sets the medical criteria used to establish whether drivers are medically fit to drive.”
You can download a copy of Standard 6 here, all 289 pages of it!
Medical conditions and driving
As we age, we may develop medical conditions and/or require medication that may affect our ability to drive safely. All drivers regardless of age are legally obliged to self-report any disease or disability that “may affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle”.
These include, for example:
- Cardiovascular diseases (and those with a pacemaker/ICD)
- Cognitive impairment such as dementia dementia
- Diabetes (if treated with insulin)
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Respiratory diseases (COPD, and those needing oxygen)
- Sleep apnea
- Vision impairment
- Hearing loss
Your medical assessment form
Your medical exam is required and routine for all drivers in Canada aged 75 and over. As the CAA AMA website says:
“A driver’s medical is a routine exam, performed by a physician, meant to ensure that a person is medically fit to drive according to provincial guidelines. It’s designed to keep all of us safe, and only specific groups of people need to have it done. Driver’s medicals are an uninsured service and are paid for by either an employer or the patient.”
The website also has useful tips for your medical exam, such as writing down a list of your medications and previous medical history. Remember to take your glasses too!
The result of your medical examination
Most drivers with medical examination requirements must provide their completed Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form. This can be completed and signed by:
- a Canadian licensed physician
- a nurse practitioner
This medical report is then valid for six months, so needs to be submitted in time to keep your licence after aged 75. The licensing authority may also request more detailed assessments depending on your medical condition/s. You may also be required to pass a road test to demonstrate your fitness to drive.
The licensing authority have the final say. They might decide you are OK to drive, or give you a condition code that might restrict your driving in some way. They may also ask for periodic medical examinations to check you are safe to drive moving forward.
For a flow diagram on what happens at each stage, see here.
Costs of your driving medical exam
The medical examination costs around $150 and you also need to budget in the (current) $43 licence renewal fee. Whilst physicians can set their own fee, they cannot decide if you are fit to drive or not. Only the Registrar of Motor Vehicle Services can make licensing decisions, including placing conditions on a licence or issuing a suspension of a person’s driver’s licence.
For many seniors, these exams and assessments are all part of driving in 21st century Canada. So they are happy to oblige to keep their driving licence and retain their independence.
Concerned about someone else’s ability to drive?
Any concerned citizen or health worker can report their concerns here. However, if you know the person, it might be better to talk first.
As an adult child of aging parents particularly, you may be concerned about their fitness to drive. It’s always best to discuss this with your parents face to face, as they may already have their own feelings about the right time to hang up the car keys.
The good news is that in Calgary, there are transport options that ensure seniors can get out and about without the need for a car. For more details see our previous blog on seniors and driving.
Your senior parents may also be concerned that “They are trying to take my licence away”. That is not the case.
“Alberta Transportation encourages you to drive as long as you can do it safely, regardless of your age. It’s about finding a balance between maximizing your mobility and ensuring your safety and that of everyone else on the road.”
Need help with transportation in Calgary?
Just call us! Our team have excellent contacts with all local transport companies. Our caregivers are also more than happy to help accompany you out so you can navigate with someone there to help with access to transport and information. To discuss Calgary home care and transportation:
