What Happened
A driver with dementia destroyed my car. Airbags deployed. I'm lucky to be alive. Even month later, my life is still a mess—injured, PTSD, nightmares, fear at every stop sign and every turn lane. This crash should never have happened. but DMV allows older drivers to renew their licenses online every 8 years. No in-person check. No vision test. No cognitive screen. That is how drivers with dementia stay on the road.

The Goal
Protect all road users by reforming senior driver license renewal—without leaving elderly citizens stranded.

We cannot simply take away licenses. We must build a system that is both safe and fair.

1. Renewal Requirements for Senior Drivers (age 65+)
Require in-person renewal every 3–4 years instead of every 8 years
Mandate vision tests at every renewal
Mandate cognitive screening using simple, evidence-based tools to detect early dementia
Give DMV examiners the authority to request a driving re-test if concerns arise

2. Transportation Support Systems for Seniors

Losing a license should not mean losing independence.
Any safety improvements should include simple, practical alternatives seniors can actually use.

• Uber / Lyft ride vouchers
  Provide limited, subsidized ride credits for essential trips like medical appointments and groceries
• Easy-to-use ride hotline
  A phone number seniors can call to arrange rides—no app or smartphone required
• Use existing local transit options
  Better access and awareness of current services like senior bus discounts and community shuttles

These are low-cost, realistic solutions that can be implemented quickly.

Other Countries Have Solved This—We Can Too
This is not a new or unrealistic idea.
Other countries are already taking action to prevent these tragedies.

In countries like Japan(Widely considered one of the most proactive systems in the world), Singapore, Canada, and United Kingdom, older drivers are required to complete:

• In-person license renewals
• Cognitive and vision screening
• More frequent (shorter) renewal cycles

These systems are designed to identify risks early—before an accident happens.
Just as important, these countries also provide strong public transportation options, so seniors who can no longer drive safely still maintain independence and quality of life.

The result?
Fewer preventable accidents and safer roads for everyone.

Call to Action
Join me in calling on Florida's Department of Motor Vehicles and state legislators to implement mandatory in-person renewals with vision and cognitive screening for senior drivers—paired with robust transportation alternatives.

This simple policy change would have saved me from a crash that never should have happened. It will save others from PTSD, injury, or death.

Sign this petition. Protect our roads. Protect our loved ones.

News References:

1. Ormond Beach (Most powerful – dementia angle)
📰 “79-Year-Old Driver Failed to Stop at Stop sign Kills Pedestrian in Florida”
👉 https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2026/02/16/driver-with-possible-dementia-strikes-kills-pedestrian-in-ormond-beach-police-say/

2. Clearwater (Pedestrian fatality)
📰 “Senior Driver Fails to Yield, Kills Pedestrian in Clearwater Crosswalk”
👉 https://www.fox13news.com/news/clearwater-pedestrian-killed-crosswalk-crash

3. Miami-Dade (Wrong-way crash)
📰 “70s oldElderly Driver Traveling Wrong Way Causes deadly Crash (2 dead 2 injured )
👉 https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/wrong-way-driver-crash-miami-dade/