California

Driver licensing agency contact information	California Department of Motor Vehicles 2415 First Avenue, Mail Station C152 Sacramento, CA 95818-2698 www.dmv.ca.gov	916 657-6550

Visual acuity Visual fields Color vision requirement Type of road test Restricted licenses	Each eye with correction Both eyes with correction If one eye blind—other with/without correction Absolute visual acuity minimum Are bioptic telescopes allowed? Minimum field requirement None The Driving Performance Evaluation (DPE) is administered for original licensing and for some experienced impaired drivers (eg, drivers with vision problems). For other experienced impaired drivers (eg, drivers with cognitive deficits), the Supplemental Driving Performance Evaluation (SDPE) is administered. A variety of restrictions are available—most commonly for corrective lens wearers.	Screening standard: One eye 20/70 if other is 20/40. Failure to meet standard results in referral to vision specialist and possible road test. 20/40 (also a screening standard) 20/40 (with road test given unless it is a stable, long-standing condition) Better than 20/200, best corrected, in at least one eye. Cannot use bioptic telescopes to meet standard. Yes, for daylight driving only. None

Standard Age-based renewal procedures	Length of license validation Renewal options and conditions Vision testing required at time of renewal? Written test required? Road test required? No renewal by mail at age 70 and older.	5 years In-person or (if applicant qualifies) mail renewal for no more than 2 license terms in sequence. Yes, at in-person renewal Yes, at in-person renewal Only if there is significant evidence of driving impairment.

Physician/medical reporting Immunity Legal protection DMV follow-up Other reporting Anonymity	Physicians are required to report all patients diagnosed with ‘disorders characterized by lapses of consciousness.’ The law specifies that this definition includes Alzheimer’s disease ‘and those related disorders that are severe enough to be likely to impair a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle.’ Physicians are not required to report unsafe drivers. However, they are authorized to report, given their good faith judgment that it is in the public’s interest. Yes, if the condition is required to be reported. (A physician who has failed to report such a patient may be held liable for damages.) If the condition is not required to be reported, there is no immunity from liability. Only if the condition is required by law to be reported. The medical information obtained from the physician is reviewed by DMV hearing officers within the Driver Safety Branch. The driver is reexamined; at the conclusion of the process, the DMV may take no action, impose restrictions, limit license term, order periodic reexaminations, or suspend or revoke the driver's license. The DMV will accept information from the driver him or herself, courts, police, other DMVs, family members, and virtually any other source. If so requested, the name of the reporter will not be divulged (unless a court order mandates disclosure).

Role of the MAB MAB contact information	The MAB gathers specialists for panels on special driving related topics (eg, vision). These panels develop policy recommendations for the DMV regarding drivers with a particular type of impairment. No recommendations are made regarding individuals as such. The MAB no longer meets as a group. For further information regarding the role of the MAB, contact: Post Licensing Policy California Department of Motor Vehicles 2415 First Avenue, Mail Station C163 Sacramento, CA 95818-2698 916 657-5691

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