--- title: "How Associations Are Helping Older Drivers Stay Safe Behind the Wheel" id: "39509" type: "post" slug: "how-associations-are-helping-older-drivers-stay-safe-behind-the-wheel" published_at: "2017-08-28T21:07:12+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:16:31+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/28/how-associations-are-helping-older-drivers-stay-safe-behind-the-wheel/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/28/how-associations-are-helping-older-drivers-stay-safe-behind-the-wheel.md" excerpt: "With a growing number of older motorists, a variety of groups—both in the automotive industry and outside of it—are offering resources and advice for staying safe on the road and choosing the right vehicle." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "older drivers" - "Safety" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » How Associations Are Helping Older Drivers Stay Safe Behind the Wheel Older drivers may have limitations they didn’t have when they were younger, but that doesn’t mean their car keys should be taken away, according to associations that have taken steps to help older drivers stay behind the wheel safely. There were 47.8 million drivers over age 65 on the road in 2015, [according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/older-drivers) . Often, these drivers are very experienced and well-suited to operate a vehicle. But aging brings new challenges for drivers. The auto industry has added a variety of features to vehicles that anticipated the shifting needs of older drivers, such as power seats that can be preset, a push-button ignition, and automatic windshield wipers, [noted a recent New York Times article (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/well/safer-cars-help-keep-older-drivers-on-the-road.html?_r=1) . AAA has a brochure, [created with the help of the University of Florida Institute for Mobility (opens in a new tab)](http://seniordriving.aaa.com/maintain-mobility-independence/car-buying-maintenance-assistive-accessories/smartfeatures/) , to highlight these features, which help drivers who have a diminished range of motion, arthritis, or vision problems. “There’s no such thing as the best car for an older person,” Jacob Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy and research, told the *Times*. “What matters are the features, and the features appropriate for one older driver are not necessarily appropriate for another.” The auto industry isn’t alone in meeting this demand. AARP, for example, [offers “Smart Driver” courses (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/) for its members around the country. The program is designed for motorists who haven’t received formal driver’s education in more than 30 years. “By taking a driver refresher course, you’ll learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment,” [AARP explains on its website (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aarp.org/auto/driver-safety/info-2010/why-take-a-driver-safety-course.html?intcmp=AE-ATO-ADS-ROW2-SPOT1) . “You’ll learn how you can manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time.” And the American Occupational Therapy Association, which sponsors [Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (opens in a new tab)](https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/Older-Driver-Safety-Awareness-Week.aspx) each December, assists older drivers by evaluating how physical changes might affect their driving skills and, when possible, offering rehabilitation. Elin Schold Davis, who heads AOTA’s Older Driver Initiative, told the *Times* that the goal was “to support people to enable them to drive as long as possible.” “It’s not about taking away the keys based on age, it’s about function,” she added. (8vfanl/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#older drivers](https://associationsnow.com/tag/older-drivers/) [#Safety](https://associationsnow.com/tag/safety/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) - [VideoASAE Legislative 2025 Fly-InApril 4, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/04/asae-legislative-2025-fly-in/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F08%2F28%2Fhow-associations-are-helping-older-drivers-stay-safe-behind-the-wheel%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !