ADEPT Driver Encourages Senior Driver Tune Ups During Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

ELK GROVE, Calif., Dec. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ADEPT Driver encourages mature drivers to tune up their driving skills during Older Driver Safety Awareness Week by using Lifelong Driver.

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"As we get older, we can do a lot of things better than we used to. But chances are, driving is not one of them," said Dr. Richard Harkness, CEO of ADEPT Driver. "Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is a perfect time to test your skills or encourage someone you love to test theirs. If you need a tune up to sharpen your driving skills, do it soon. Improving or simply maintaining your present skills is far easier than trying to regain them after they're gone."

Any driver can try Lifelong Driver's free, interactive driving exercises. The scenarios allow users to test their skill and timing in hazard detection, visual search, and upcoming gap analysis, and are based on the kind of driving you do every day. These are samples of the exercises in the Lifelong Driver program that can help people stay in the driver's seat longer.

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week was established by the American Occupational Therapy Association. In 2012, the week is observed December 3-7. The AARP, AAA, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and other organizations are using the week to raise awareness about ways to keep older drivers safe on the road for a long as possible.  

Collision rates among drivers 55 and over are second only to teen drivers. By 2030, 71.5 million drivers, or approximately 1-in-4 drivers in the United States will be age 65 or over. This fast-growing segment of our population is predicted to live 20% to 25% of their lives in active retirement.

"Most mature drivers still have plenty of miles to travel," Dr. Harkness continued. "Lifelong Driver helps older drivers maintain freedom, independence and quality of life."

Lifelong Driver was developed by a diverse group of internationally recognized experts who researched the leading causes of mature driver collisions. Their extensive research identified five critical factors causing the majority of older driver crashes:

• Judging safe gaps in traffic, especially when making left hand turns at intersections;
• Determining adequate distances from other vehicles when merging and making lane changes;
• Detecting hazards and dealing with distractions while driving;
• Identifying and remembering relevant objects while driving; and
• Dealing with complex driving environments, like busy parking lots.

The Lifelong Driver program is designed to address these factors by using empirically-based teaching methods and patented technology. It uses real life driving situations to improve driving skills most critical for mature drivers. The easy-to-use program includes a combination of computer based training and optional in-car exercises. Topics on proper seat and mirror adjustment, the aging process, information on driver licensing, referrals to external resources, and completing driving assessments are included in the course.

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Contact: Hilary McLean
Phone: 916-441-2917
[email protected]

SOURCE ADEPT Driver