Ahead of National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week – Dec. 6-10 – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson encourages residents of all ages to take advantage of state resources for safe driving.
“These resources help Michiganders continue to drive safely as they age and access other transportation when they stop driving so they can continue to enjoy their independence and our great state,” said Benson.
Residents can learn more at Michigan.gov/AgingDriver, which was designed for easy navigation among resources to help aging drivers. During National Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, the site will feature information on the following topics:
Monday: Anticipating changes that can affect driving
Tuesday: Family conversations
Wednesday: Screening and evaluations with an occupational therapist
Thursday: Interventions that can empower drivers
Friday: Staying engaged in the community with or without a carRecognized for excellence by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the website was developed through a collaboration of public and private agencies to promote safety and mobility for Michigan’s aging adults. It regularly includes the following resources:
Older driver self-assessment driving tools and videos
Links to driver refresher courses and other community supports for older drivers
Information about how medications and health problems may affect driving and lists of resources available to drivers once they stop driving
Strategies for initiating conversations about when and how to transition to a non-driving lifestyle
Procedures for referring an unsafe driver for a driver reexamination
Information about the aspects of aging and how best to interact with older residents for audiences such as law enforcement, healthcare, and other professionals
