THE ROAD TO DRIVING WELLNESS

A Workshop for Older Drivers

The Road to Driving Wellness classes offered by Area 4 Agency on Aging focus on teaching a senior how to maintain their health for driving. The class teaches about changes in the body, physiology and vision that occur with aging and things that can be done to compensate for these changes and/or improve a senior's ability to continue to drive. 

Most seniors want to continue driving as long as possible. This workshop is designed to help older drivers stay on the road, safely.

Workshop participants will:

• Understand how age affects driving
• Be able to assess your driving abilities
• Learn how to stay well and drive safely
• Know about alternatives and resources

Quick Facts about Driving:

• 131 million vehicles are registered in the United States
• An older driver requires ten times more light to see than a 20 year old does
• It takes a 55 year old driver eight times as long to recover from glare as a 16 year old
• A typical driver makes twenty decisions per mile, with less than half a second to act to avoid a collision

Basic Workshop Agenda:

This interactive program features classroom discussion, activities, light stretching and exercise, and a Car Fit demonstration.

• Specific changes in reaction time, vision and mental sharpness
• Impact of prescription drugs, alcohol and nutrition on driving
• Specific exercises to improve or maintain the range of motion and muscle strength in your neck, trunk and legs
• Strategies to compensate for problems in peripheral vision or impaired night vision
• Hints for choosing the right car for maximum safety and fit
• Specialized safety equipment such as panoramic mirrors or pedal extenders
• Transportation alternatives and local resources

Workshop Details:

• A one-time workshop geared toward older drivers but helpful for anyone interested in the topic.
• No cost to attend. There is a suggested donation of $5, but it is not required.
• Complements AARP’s Mature Driver Safety Course.
• Driving Wellness does not allow a discount on your automobile insurance.

If you are interested in participating or would like to schedule a workshop for your area, please contact Anne Israel-Connolly at (916)486-1876.

 IT’S NOT ABOUT AGE … IT’S ABOUT ABILITY !!

The Road to Driving Wellness curriculum was originally developed by the American Society on Aging and distributed by the Older Californian Traffic Safety Task Force. The Area 4 Agency on Aging has modified the program and has added a “Car Fit” component. “Car Fit” is a collaborative effort of the American Society on Aging, AARP, the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Automobile Club.

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