An official website of the State of Maryland.

Maryland.gov Translate

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration

Maryland Driver Risk Screening

Welcome to the new MVA.Maryland.gov!

You’ve reached the new website for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Thanks for visiting!

The Maryland Driver Risk Screening (MaDRS) is a free test offered by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to help identify whether physical or cognitive changes may be affecting a person's ability to drive safely. 

Who should take the test

MaDRS is recommended for drivers who have shown signs of physical or cognitive decline that may affect their ability to drive safely. This includes drivers who have come to the attention of the Medical Advisory Board (MAB) or the MVA's Division of Driver Wellness and Safety.

What to expect during the test

Screenings are conducted on a touch screen computer with the help of a proctor and take approximately 30 to 40 minutes to complete. 

The test has six segments. Each one measures a specific ability needed for safe driving.

  1. Visualization: The driver views a completed diagram and several incomplete ones, then identifies which incomplete diagram matches the original.
  2. Rapid walk: The driver quickly walks 10 feet and back. This is to assess strength, flexibility and coordination.
  3. Divided attention: The driver draws lines connecting numbers and letters in sequence (i.e., 1 to A, A to 2, 2 to B, B to 3, and so on).
  4. Cued recall:  The driver is given the name of three common objects. Several minutes later, they are asked to recall the named objects.
  5. Visual information processing speed: The driver focuses on a central object while identifying objects in their peripheral vision.
  6. Four choice reaction time: The driver is shown four horizontal boxes and asked to click the red one as quickly as possible.

Understanding the results

MaDRS is a screening tool. It cannot predict whether a person will drive safely or unsafely.

A poor result may be sign that the driver is at higher risk behind the wheel and may need further evaluation. 

Schedule a screening test

The MVA offers MaDRS at no cost and by appointment only. 

Schedule an appointment at an MVA branch office

Please note, the test is available only at these MVA locations:

  • Annapolis
  • Baltimore City​
  • Bel Air
  • Beltsville
  • Cumberland
  • Easton
  • Elkton
  • ​​Essex
  • Frederick​
  • Gaithersburg​
  • Glen Burnie
  • Hagerstown
  • Largo
  • Loveville
  • Salisbury​
  • Waldorf​
  • Westminster
  • White Oak​

Contact us