Be Proactive About Your Driving Safety

Over 10,088 motor vehicle crashes occurred in Delaware County, Ohio, from 2020 to 2022. Mature drivers were involved in almost one-third of all of those. During that same time period, there were 45 fatal crashes—18 of which involved a mature driver.

As a “senior,” your many years of driving experience has no doubt made you a safe driver. To maintain your mobility and independence, without putting your life or those of others at risk while driving, you need to become a proactive safe driver. It is imperative that you can evaluate your own driving ability and understand how the changes to your mind and body can affect your driving. Recognizing changes in your own driving skills will allow you to improve your skills and seek out the tools necessary to drive safer for longer.

An important first step in maintaining your safe driving skills is to take advantage of various virtual and in-person driver safety courses designed specifically for the older driver. Courses such as “AARP Smart Driver Online Course for Senior Drivers” or the “AAA Roadwise Mature Driver Course” are available to anyone, but discounts are available to members.

Completion of these courses may even qualify you for an insurance discount. Additional information on older driver safety is available online at Car-Fit.org, the National Highway Traffic Administration at nhtsa.gov, the Ohio Department of Transportation at transportation.ohio. gov, the Ohio Department of Aging at aging.ohio.gov, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety at safety.ohio.gov

To find a local driver safety program or schedule a Car Fit appointment in Delaware County, contact the Delaware Public Health District’s Safe Communities Coordinator, Jackie Bain, at 740-203-2083 or jbain@delawarehealth.org