DRIVING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE AGED: THE STATE OF THE ART

The purpose of this study was to collect and organize survey data relating to new driving courses and refresher driver courses for the older driver in the United States and to determine whether training programs were available for the driver who transports elderly citizens to various locations for services. All 50 states and the District of Columbia were surveyed.

The survey was conducted by telephone and utilized a fixed series of questions to be asked of the person in charge of transportation in the office of aging in each of the states.

The principal findings were (1) there are no statewide programs or curricula to assist senior citizens in obtaining driving skills to operate within the highway transportation system and (2) 37% of the states have no training programs for drivers who transport senior citizens. The other states reported that all training is decentralized and is given to the area agencies to conduct. Consequently, there exists a conglomeration of programs, ranging from a single course in American Red Cross first aid to school bus driver training programs.