AAA Foundation Debuts Roadwise Review, a Free Online Tool for Senior Drivers

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2009; The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety today launched a free, online version of AAA's Roadwise Review, a first-of-its-kind scientifically valid tool designed to help seniors assess their driving health in the privacy of their homes.

"Our goal is to make Roadwise Review available to as many seniors, caregivers and family members as possible," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "Roadwise Review allows seniors to check their driving ability conveniently and confidentially -- something that is vitally important as we age."

Roadwise Review: A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer measures physical and mental abilities shown to be the strongest predictors of crash risk among older drivers and provides feedback to guide the user about their ability to drive safely.

Roadwise Review uses an integrated data system that reports and provides users with confidential feedback about screening results. Using videos and easy-to-follow instructions, Roadwise Review screens drivers in eight functional areas:

  --  Leg Strength and General Mobility -- necessary to control acceleration
      and braking.
  --  Head and Neck Flexibility -- essential in checking blind spots, lane
      changes or merging.
  --  High Contrast Visual Acuity -- needed to identify pavement markings,
      as well as detect many types of hazards in or near the road.
  --  Low Visual Acuity -- vital for driving in low visibility conditions
      such as dusk, rain or fog.
  --  Working Memory -- important in following directions, remembering
      traffic rules and regulations, and using information on highway guide
      signs.
  --  Visualization of Missing Information -- helps a driver recognize
      hazards even when partially hidden from view.
  --  Visual Search -- safe driving requires the ability to quickly find and
      recognize traffic signs and landmarks.
  --  Useful Field of View -- ensures drivers can pay attention to what is
      happening right in front of them while also noticing safety threats at
      the edge of their field of view.

The online version automatically uninstalls itself after use, but does allow the user the option to save results to the computer on which the program is being accessed. As with the previous version of Roadwise Review, no personal data or scores are reported so results remain confidential.

"AAA is dedicated to keeping seniors driving for as long as safely possible and mobile thereafter," said Jake Nelson, director, AAA Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research. "Roadwise Review is just one of many free online tools and resources designed by AAA to assist older drivers and their families."

People age 65 and older represent the fastest growing segment of the country's population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one in five people will be age 65 or older by 2030, with an estimated 90 percent licensed to drive. Second only to teenagers, seniors have the highest crash death rate per mile driven due to their age-related fragility. Roadwise Review was developed based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Institute on Aging sponsored research that indicates individuals who exceed measured levels of decline in key safe driving predictors are 2 to 5 times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle crash.

To learn more about or try Roadwise Review, visit www.SeniorDrivers.org or www.AAASeniors.com .

Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is an independent, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation's mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.