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This article appeared in Aging Today, September/October 1997, copyright American Society on Aging, 1997. It appeared in the newspaper's Research Today section, supported by a grant from the AARP Andrus Foundation.
Resources
Several organizations offer courses, booklets and other resources for older drivers. Completing such courses will not only help elders but also make them eligible for an insurance discount in 34 states.
The American Association of Retired Persons offers an eight-hour course called 55 Alive/Mature Driving, which teaches older people how to adjust their driving habits to compensate for declining physical or perceptual skills. The course costs $10 or less, depending on location. Contact: AARP, (202) 434-2277.
The Chicago-based National Safety Council designs education courses for older drivers given by local associations in every state. Contact: (800) 621-7615 for locations.
The Automobile Association of America's Foundation for Traffic Safety offers two booklets, Concerned about an Older Driver? A Guide for Families and Friends and Driver 55 Plus: Test Your Own Performance, a self-testing guide for older drivers, for $2 each. Both are available through local automobile associations or by calling (800) 305-7233.