A quick look at census data (over 2014) Every day 11,000 people turn 65 (In the US), with my own rough estimation, it turns out that several hundred people are turning 70 every day in the great state of California, and every 10 minutes, one or more of them emails me about their license renewal. Adventures with D.M.V.,
I hear the usual entertaining horror stories about the test: (“They ask ridiculous questions that are not related to driving,” said Dahna Klarer, 75, of Newport Beach, who failed twice and added, “I’m not a stupid person, but they make you feel really stupid.”)
An aging wave is coming to California, and Steve Lopez is riding it. His column focuses on the benefits and burdens of aging — and how some people are challenging the stigma associated with older adults.
And I continue to come across success stories:
“I had no problems,” said Ruth Gleason, 79, of Ridgecrest, adding: “Thank you to you and Steve Gordon at the DMV for easing the fear of taking the test for many CA drivers over 70.”
In my half-century career as a journalist, I never thought I’d share the honor with the DMV director. But it’s further proof that life after age 70 can be full of new adventures, including a license renewal that has to be completed. Every five years after a major 7–0 win.
If you’re wondering why Klarer had so much difficulty renewing his license while Gleason had it easy, it’s because Klarer took the renewal test at a DMV office while Gleason opted for a remote, from-home e-learning course.
If you’re going to renew, repeat after me:
E-learning is the best option!
to learn more about how to do that, Go to the DMV.Ca.gov website and click on Driver License and License Renewal Options. By the way, if you choose e-learning, you will still need to go to a DMV office for the eye exam and photo, but if you have completed the testing requirement at home, you will be ahead of the game.
The e-learning option is like a mini-driver ed course that takes about 30 or 40 minutes to complete, and the best part is that you can’t fail it. In fact, the website calls it a “no-fail online e-learning course.” You’ll be asked a series of questions, and if you answer something wrong, you can guess again until you get it right.
DMV Director Steve Gordon recommends e-learning courses for drivers who need to take a test to renew their license. “Having the knowledge is more important than the ability to take a written test,” he said.
(Wally Scalise/Los Angeles Times)
Gordon, former Silicon Valley tech executiveHe implemented an e-learning curriculum because he believes it is a better educational tool than old-fashioned testing.
“Having the knowledge is more important than the ability to take a written exam,” he said.
If that’s true, here’s an idea:
Why not eliminate the traditional so-called knowledge test and simply offer e-learning? It seems like it would save drivers unnecessary stress, and also save the DMV the hassle of conducting the test.
The e-learning course fits Gordon’s mission to make it easier to do DMV business remotely instead of going into the office. And the agency just announced that e-learning is now available for free. Available in Spanish.
California drivers are getting hooked, too, and many of them are using the e-learning option, which is available to drivers of all ages. In November, 19,000 people took an e-learning course, but that number jumped to 47,500 in April.
By the way, Clarer skipped the frustrating in-person process, opted for e-learning, and ended up renewing easily. But she was absolutely right about the stupid questions on the traditional test.
Even the DMV admits this, and officials have told me in the past that some of the stupidest questions are being removed from the testing process.
Readers have complained to me that this is taking too long, so I asked DMV spokeswoman Anita Gore about it. She said many of the questions have now been removed, and there are plans to remove “30 or more” questions starting in July. According to Gore, already these head-scratching, who-cares questions have been removed:
“What is another name for the hand-to-hand steering method?”
“What is the minimum term of imprisonment for a person … who is convicted of murder as a result of eluding law enforcement during a pursuit?”
Questions set for DMV Dumpster include:
“Which of the following is the appropriate reduction in speed when driving on a snow-packed road?”
“How many seconds should you look ahead of your vehicle on the road to identify hazards?”
“When turning left from a two-way street onto a one-way street with three lanes, which lane may you turn into?”
So, a big thanks to all the readers who raised silly questions and helped get DMV’s attention.
If you call the DMV customer service line and finally get a virtual assistant named Miles…be patient.
(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)
But again, if you opt for e-learning, you don’t have to worry about the stupid questions. (If you started the license renewal process in person, you’ll have to fail two more times before you’ll be eligible to start over and move forward with e-learning. This stupid rule makes no sense, unless the purpose is torture, and it should be discarded. Also, it doesn’t seem fair that if you fail the traditional exam three times and switch to e-learning, you’ll have to pay another $45 license renewal fee. Golden State will continue to monitor the situation).
alert:
I’ve heard from many readers that they’ve had success with the renewal process using eLearning, which is available via computer, tablet or phone, but I’ve also heard from people who’ve encountered glitches or had trouble accessing the system.
Gore said it could be a technical problem on the consumer’s end, or it could be that — like the last time I recommended e-learning — the system is overloaded. (Golden State, its partners and affiliates assume no responsibility for the state’s glitches, shortcomings and failures).
He said anyone having a problem can call the DMV’s customer service line at (800) 777-0133, and here’s another word of caution:
I tried it, but it didn’t work out well.
I wanted to speak to a live person, but ended up speaking to a “virtual assistant” named Miles, who asked what I was talking about. I told Miles I couldn’t access e-learning (I was pretending, just to see what would happen), and he offered information about accident reporting and vehicle registration. On subsequent calls, Miles sent me links to general license renewal information.
At one point, I must have misheard the signal, because Miles started speaking in Spanish, or at least tried to. Even with my half-baked language skills, I can assure you this:
Miles has the worst accent in history.
You would think that in California, compared to everywhere else, we would have better Spanish-speaking robots.
I eventually got to the place where an automated voice said in English that no one was available due to the volume of calls, but a real person would call me back in two hours. And I got a callback.
If I seem obsessed with the nuances of license renewal for people 70 and older, it’s primarily because of public service, but I also have an ulterior motive.
Time is ticking, and there isn’t much time left before your renewal is due.
wish me good luck.
steve.lopez@latimes.com
