Medically impaired drivers

Elderly driver information and medical conditions

Driving with a disability

Driving with a medical condition

Mature drivers

Medically impaired drivers

Cause for concern

If you know someone who could be dangerous behind the wheel because of a medical condition, you may report this to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Medical Review Unit. Download a Driver Condition or Behavior Report form MV3141 here or obtain one at the DMV service center nearest you.

A safety consideration

It is not easy to decide to report a relative or friend to WisDOT, but concern for the driver's safety and the safety of others is usually the deciding factor.

How a decision is made

WisDOT cares about a driver's functional ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. Decisions about impaired drivers are based on individual signs, symptoms, behaviors, and the observations of others, rather than the type of condition or a diagnosis.

The issue is whether or not a medical condition affects a driver's ability to drive safely.

Signs of impairment

Confusion
Disorientation
Memory loss
Impaired judgment
Extreme exhaustion
Difficulty making simple decisions
Chronic drowsiness
Impaired response/reaction time
Inability to concentrate
Impulsive behaviors
Severe shortness of breath
Episodes of impaired or altered consciousness

Conditions that may cause impairment

Alzheimer's and other types of dementia
Diabetes, if frequent episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occur
Neurological conditions, such as seizure disorders
Sleep disorders
Behavioral or mental disorders
Respiratory (lung) diseases
Cardiovascular (heart) disease
Visual impairments

What is needed for WisDOT to act

Positive identification of the driver. The license plate number is not enough; the driver could be someone other than the owner of the car.
A report that is signed. If the report is from a citizen, another person must be able to verify the information.
A description of behaviors, observations or impairment related to driving

WisDOT will not take action based only on a diagnosis or a person's advanced age.

What can happen

Depending on the nature of the driver's limitation, and the contents of the Driver Condition or Behavior Report, WisDOT may require a:

Road test
Knowledge test
Medical report
Vision exam or screening
No further action
Cancellation of the license*
Any combination of 1-4

*Only a behavior report signed by a Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopath (DO), Physician Assistant (PA-C) or Advanced Practice Nurse Prescriber (APNP) can result in immediate cancellation of a license.

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Confidentiality a concern?

Wisconsin has an open records law, which means that behavior report information is available to the reported driver. If this is a concern, you might want to discuss your concerns with the driver and suggest that the person stop driving or see a physician, physician assistant or APNP. The physician, physician assistant or APNP may be willing to send in a report. If you have good reason to remain anonymous and will not provide information otherwise, you may request a Pledge of Confidentiality form MV3454 . You must sign this form in the presence of a WisDOT representative before we accept the information.

When medical professionals report

Wisconsin does not have a mandatory reporting law, but a physician, physician assistant or APNP may report concerns about a patient's driving ability to WisDOT without informed consent of the patient. This applies to anyone whose physical or mental condition may affect his/her ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, based on the health care professional’s judgment.

Reports from health care professionals are considered confidential because they contain medical information. However, the information is available to the driver.

Questions? Contact us: Wisconsin DMV email service
Phone: (608) 266-2327
FAX: (608) 267-0518

Related links:

DMV service centers

American Medical Association:

AMA resources for patients