Page 12 - AAA Schuylkill County – AAA Now! – January/February 2018

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
AAA’s Roadside DriverTM Courses for Seniors
AAA helps mature drivers find vehicles that fit their needs.
Find smart features for older drivers at SeniorDriving.AAA.com
America’s population is aging, and as we age, we’re continuing to drive. Research has shown that today’s older drivers are spending more time behind the wheel.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 84 percent of Americans 65 and older still drive compared to barely half in the early 1970s. The Department of Transportation says there are more than 42 million licensed drivers age 65 and older, about one in five drivers on the road.
While our knowledge and experience expand with age, cognitive abilities, range of motion and vision tend to diminish – reducing your ability to execute the complex task of driving. These changes are often so gradual that you may not always be aware of them. As a result, we sometimes fail to compensate for these limitations.
This “silver tsunami” will greatly impact
changes in vehicles and infrastructure design
to accommodate the needs of the mature
motorist. Vehicle enhancements such as LED headlights, onboard cameras, and crash-avoidance technologies benefit all drivers, but especially older ones. Likewise, infrastructure improvements such as supplemental pavement markings, and more visible highway signs are particularly valuable for seniors.
Aging drivers may also add some impetus to speed the deployment of autonomous vehicles. Self-driving vehicles could provide greater independence for older consumers with mobility and vision problems.
When it comes to selecting a new vehicle, knowing what features are available to assist with physical limitations – for any age – can make for a safer, more enjoyable ride. That’s one reason why AAA launched “Smart Features for Older Drivers” in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation.
Smart Features for Older Drivers helps mature drivers and their families minimize their driving discomforts, enhance their abilities and
promote a lifetime of safe driving. Available at SeniorDriving.AAA.com, this free resource
lists numerous vehicle features that optimize older driver safety and comfort. AAA also offers driver improvement courses for seniors. The AAA Roadwise program was developed to help mature motorists refine their driving skills and maintain their mobility and independence.
AAA’s Roadwise DriverTM is a course that can be taken online, or in a classroom setting to help senior drivers get the most out of their vehicle,
while reducing risk to you, your passengers and others on the road. The course covers topics like:
• Extending Your Safe Driving Career
• Distractions, Drowsiness, Aggressive Driving
& Road Rage
• Managing Visibility, Time & Space • Alcohol & Medications
• Comfort & Safety Tips.
Automobile insurance discounts also may apply upon course completion; check with your insurance provider for details. Educational offerings are not available in all areas. Contact AAA Schuylkill County or visit AAA.com for more information.
Obtaining Emergency Road Service
Emergency road service is one of AAA’s most valuable services. It is intended to assist members whose vehicles have become disabled.
• If your vehicle becomes disabled in Schuylkill County, call 570-628-0740. If it is disabled outside of Schuylkill County, call 1-800-AAA-HELP (1-800-222-4357). These dedicated emergency numbers can be used
24 hours a day/7 days a week. Members can also request emergency road service on the internet at www.AAA.com. Click on the road service link, fill out the online form and AAA will be on the way.
• AAA Schuylkill County membership covers the member not the vehicle and is non-transferable, therefore the member must be with the vehicle with their membership card and photo ID at time of service.
• When requesting emergency road service, members must provide membership number, name, phone number, location of vehicle, type of disablement and where the vehicle is to be towed (if applicable). Dispatchers will also request year, make, model and color of disabled vehicle.
• Lastly, it is a good idea to let the dispatcher know how many people you are traveling with (for transportation purposes) and any other details you feel might be important to inform the tow truck driver.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018