Let us get one thing straight: nobody is excited about taking a driving test again. You passed your test decades ago — maybe never failed and never got a ticket.
So why would you entertain the idea of retaking it every ten years? Well, buckle up, because you may just wind up safer for it.
I have a bold—but practical—idea that just might reduce car accidents in the United States: make a driving test mandatory every 10 years for all licensed drivers.
It sounds annoying, perhaps unnecessary, but stick with me. This is not about assuming drivers are incompetent; it is about recognizing that driving is a dynamic skill, and even the most seasoned driver can become rusty or outdated.
1. Human Error Is the Root Cause of Most Accidents
Pretty much every time something terrible happens on the road, it is due to a mistake.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 94% of motor vehicle crashes are linked to human error—not mechanical failure or road conditions, but driver decisions and actions gone wrong .
That is the huge opportunity here. If we had a safety mechanism that regularly brought drivers back up to speed on best practices, could we chip away at this rate? Decade-interval retesting aims to do just that.
2. Driver Knowledge Erodes—Even Among Licensed Drivers
Think you know all the rules? Think again. A lot of drivers do not.
Surveys have shown that nearly half of experienced licensed drivers fail a basic 20-question road rules quiz. That means, if tested right now, a large chunk would not pass—even though they drive confidently every day.
A separate national study revealed that:
- Nearly 85% of drivers do not know what to do when faced with a yellow light—a crucial rule for preventing rear-end collisions.
- Only one in four knows the correct three-second following distance—a number vital for safe highway driving.
If we can forget basic rules, especially those that save lives, why assume that passing a test once is forever?
3. Regular Retesting Keeps Everyone Sharp—At Every Age
This is not a proposal only aimed at elderly drivers. It is for all of us.
Sure, some states require road tests for drivers past a certain age (Illinois, for example, mandates it at age 75), because crash risk tends to rise then. But drivers of all ages cause accidents—often because of forgotten rules, bad habits, or complacency.
The idea is simple: every ten years, you refresh your knowledge and prove you still have the skill. That could catch rusty drivers before a lapse becomes a crash. You do it for health checkups. Why not for the skill that literally lets you live or die on the road?
4. Reluctance and Resistance Are Understandable
Nobody loves being retested. Especially those who have been driving fine for 40 years.
Concerns abound:
- “It is inconvenient.”
- “What if I fail, and lose my license?”
- “My eyesight or reflexes may have changed—I do not want to be punished.”
- “Studies are mixed on whether retesting actually reduces crashes.”
These are valid worries. Indeed, some states like New Hampshire repealed mandatory senior road tests after finding little crash reduction. AAA has raised concerns that mandatory retesting could scare people into giving up driving prematurely, especially seniors afraid of losing independence.
But Illinois’s data paints a different picture—requiring road tests at age 75 seemed to reduce crash rates among that group, suggesting the idea can work if implemented with care.
The key is in how the system is designed: fair, informative, supportive—not punitive.
5. A Supportive, Not Punitive, System Can Work
If this policy ever gets proposed, it must come with empathy and support.
Imagine this:
- Written renewal with a driver’s handbook refresher available online.
- A brief, local road test (like the one you passed at 16), passed or failed that day.
- If you fail, you get a couple of options:
- Free or low-cost remedial driving course
- A provisional license until you pass
- Access to refresher videos or simulators
It is not about punishment, but about accountability and safety. Letting bad driving habits fester is a public hazard. For many drivers, a gentle reset like this would prompt responsible behavior, not resentment.
6. Changing Driving Culture—One Re-Test at a Time
If you are thinking, “This sounds like overkill,” consider this:
Doctors must prove their medical competence regularly.
Pilots undergo recurrent checks even when flying the same route. Why should driving—something that literally involves moving heavy metal at high speeds—be immune to periodic reassessment?
Reinstating a culture where passing a test every decade is expected would be framing driving as the serious responsibility it is, not a once-in-a-lifetime conquistador license.
Those who master this challenge each decade would likely drive with more mindfulness—knowing they will need to prove their competence again someday soon. The net effect? A fleet of safer, more alert drivers on the roads, and fewer accidents.
Quick Summary Table: Should We Retake Our Driving Tests Every 10 Years?
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Why? | Human error accounts for 94% of crashes—driver skill matters most. |
| Problem | Driver knowledge erodes over time—yellow light rules, following distance, sign meanings get forgotten. |
| Proposed Solution | Mandatory written and/or road driving test every ten years for all licensed drivers. |
| Benefits | Keeps drivers up-to-date on rules, deters habit degradation, potentially lowers accident rates. |
| Concerns | Inconvenience, fear of failing, logistical burden, mixed evidence. |
| Mitigation | Offer friendly refresher materials, remedial courses, provision for re-testing, state-structured implementation. |
| Cultural Impact | Reinforces driving as a serious, evolving skill; aligns with lifelong learning; fosters accountability. |