Study Shows Training Can Improve Senior Drivers' Performance
Phoenix, Ariz., November 7, 2007 – Senior drivers who take classroom driving improvement courses and behind the wheel training can improve their driving performance, according to a new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Yale University.
Currently, out of the 27 million people aged 70 or older in the United States, an estimated 20 million of them have active drivers’ licenses. The Census Bureau predicts by 2020, those aged 70 or over will grow to 37 million and by 2030, over 50 million.
“The purpose of this study was to research ways to reduce the safety risk of older drivers,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs manager for AAA Arizona. “Hopefully, it will encourage seniors, families and their health care professionals to engage in discussions that will keep seniors driving safer, longer.”
The research, titled “Enhancement of Driver Performance Among Older Drivers,” used a group of drivers aged 70 years or older who recorded sub-optimal driving performance scores during road tests. Participants were then divided into two groups, one undergoing eight hours of classroom training, based in part on AAA’s Driver Improvement Program, plus two hours of behind-the-wheel training. The other group served as the control group. Drivers who took the classroom and on-road training showed significant improvement in their driving skills.
“Seniors cherish their mobility, while their families struggle with the issue of how long their loved one should be allowed to drive,” said Gorman. “This study shows there are ways to improve the driving performance of seniors.”
Whether a mature driver wants to evaluate and improve their driving skills in the privacy of their home, online or with private instruction, AAA Arizona currently offers or approves three driver training programs for mature drivers that can help to assess functional areas of driving as well as redevelop particular driving skills. These products and programs include:
- At home – Roadwise Review: A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer, is a CD-ROM that measures eight physical and mental abilities shown to be the strongest predictors of crash risk among older drivers and provides feedback to guide the user’s decision about their ability to drive safely. AAA members can purchase this program for $8.50.
- Online – I Drive Safely’s Mature Driver Course is designed for motorists 55 years of age and older who want to combine their years of driving experience with new tools and techniques that can lower the risk of collision. AAA members receive a 20 percent discount off the course fee.
- Private instruction – Driving MBA, a AAA Approved Driving School offers a Mature Driver Assessment Training Program, which evaluates seniors’ reaction time, visual acuity, peripheral vision and motion capabilities through a two-hour driving test. AAA members receive a five percent discount on this program.
To learn more about these programs, visit www.AAAAZ.com/news/drivertraining.htm.
To see the “Enhancement of Driver Performance Among Older Drivers” report in its entirety, visit www.aaafoundation.org.
AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 750,000 Arizona members. Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists. Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
