You and Your Car Launches Driving Wellness Guide

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week together with “You and Your Car” have released a guidebook based on 25 years of research which will help each driver, regardless of age, to:

• Recognize and respond to normal aging related changes as they occur 
• Make gradual adjustments to their driving

“There has been much public attention around the question: ‘At what age should an older driver stop driving?,’” said Jodi Olshevski, gerontologist and assistant vice president of The Hartford Advance 50 Team.

“This question often leads to an inaccurate and unproductive conversation,” she added. “It’s time to change the conversation and focus on the question: ‘How can older adults continue to drive safely for as long as possible?’ Our message is clear. You can control much of your driving future because safe driving is about your driving ability – not your age.”

You and Your Car helps drivers give their best when they are behind the wheel. This includes an overview of self-assessment tools, driving safety classes, comprehensive driving evaluations, maintaining brain fitness and making smart driving choices.

“Safe driving is each individual’s responsibility. All drivers must make a personal commitment to do what it takes to maintain safe driving skills,” said Joe Coughlin, Ph.D., director of the MIT AgeLab. “The healthier and more physically fit we are, and the more we understand how our health conditions affect driving, the longer we will be able to drive safely.”

The guide has 35 pages and can be downloaded free at www.safedrivingforlife.com.