This link provides information about two award-winning, community-based health programs for aging adults. These focus on the importance of exercise, proper diet, weight loss and other lifestyle choices beneficial to a longer, healthier life.
CarFit is an educational program that offers aging drivers the opportunity to check how well your vehicle "fit" you. It provides information on community-specific resources that can enhance your safety and increase your mobility in the community.
AAA's RoadWise Driver, senior defensive driving course delivers tips to help mature drivers compensate for changing vision, reflexes, and response time.
This publication provides information about Michigan's driver licensing and vehicle registration requirements. it also includes basic traffic safety and regulatory laws, and other topics important to motorists.
Maintaining your physical fitness is an important aspect of safe driving. Go4Life offers exercises, motivational tips, and free resources to help you get ready, start exercising, and keep going. Go4Life is designed to help you fit exercise and physical activity into your daily life by motivating adults to be active and to stay active.
MyCarDoesWhat.org is a national campaign to help educate drivers on new vehicle safety technologies designed to help prevent crashes. These technologies range from increasing the stability and control of cars to providing warnings about crash threats to automatically intervening to avoid or reduce the severity of a crash.
This low-cost course can help you learn the current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely. It explores ways to manage and accommodate age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time.
A free 90 minute workshop to learn all about the latest high-tech safety features in your current car, or what technology to look for when shopping for a new car. The safety benefits of blind spot warning systems, forward collision warnings and more.
The steps for referring an individual to the Michigan Department of State for a driver reexamination are explained at this site. This includes how the reexamination is administered and what possible outcomes might result.
This link to the Secretary of State's website outlines the process the Michigan Department of State uses to reexamine an individual's safe driving abilities. The physical, mental and vision standards used in the evaluation are included.
This link includes a list of agencies that provide specialized services related to driving rehabilitation and evaluation by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist.
This guide provides information about the possible effects of medications on safe driving and considerations for reducing risk.
This online resource provides information on having conversations about driving, planning ahead, signs of unsafe driving, and links to other resources.
The site provides information about the eligibility requirements for Michigan disability license plates and both permanent and temporary disability parking placards. Links are provided to application forms and an informational brochure.
This guide is designed to help people with dementia and their families maximize independence while minimizing driving risk. It provides suggestions for monitoring, limiting, and retiring from driving.
| Alzheimer’s | Video | |
| Arthritis | Video | |
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| Diabetes | Video | |
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| Parkinson's | Video | |
| Vision Disorders | Video |
Prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines (OTC), dietary supplements, and even some herbal products can cause side effects that increase your risk of a fall or motor vehicle crash. Use this fact sheet, from the CDC, to identify medicines that put you at risk, potential side effects, and questions to ask your doctor.
This publication provides information about Michigan's driver licensing and vehicle registration requirements. it also includes basic traffic safety and regulatory laws, and other topics important to motorists.
Confused about the new roundabout in your town? Learn how to maneuver through this type of intersection with links to "how-to" videos, brochures and graphics to help you master the roundabout.
Bicycle lanes are being added to more and more Michigan roadways. Whether you are behind the wheel or on a bicycle, this brochure will help you share the road safely.
This workbook will help you learn about age-related changes in abilities and habits that could affect safe driving. After responding to questions, feedback is provided about what various changes may mean for driving and what can be done to increase safety.
Advanced Driver Assistance Technology for Older Driver Safety (AAA)
This pamphlet, published by AAA, is designed to help older adults extend their safe driving by providing explanations of several issues related to the use of ADAS technologies. The pamphlet covers: benefits of ADAS technology; recommendations for the best ADAS technologies for older drivers; and what to ask car dealers about when purchasing a new vehicle with ADAS technology.
Crash Avoidance Technologies YouTube Playlist (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
This resource contains several short (1 minute or less) videos that explain how the following ADAS technologies work and how to use them: adaptive cruise control; adaptive headlights; blind spot detection; front crash prevention; lane departure warning and prevention; park assist and back-over protection; and blind-spot detection. There are also short videos that demonstrate the Cadillac XT5 without and with rear autobrake and the effectiveness of lane departure warning systems.
Driver Assistance Technologies (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
This website, developed by the federal government, provides several resources about ADAS technologies. These include a short video that explains how several ADAS technologies work. There are animated descriptions on 14 types of ADAS technologies. You can also search a database to find available ADAS technologies that were offered for a particular vehicle's make, model, and year.
In The Driver’s Seat: A Guide to Vehicle Safety Technology (The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence)
This resource provides brief discussions on several topics related to ADAS and older drivers including: the potential safety benefits; the top ten ADAS technologies for older drivers; reasons why learning more about vehicle safety is important for older drivers; a vehicle ADAS technology checklist for older adults to bring with them when they are shopping for a new car or driving one that they have borrowed or rented; and resources for learning to use ADAS technologies.
In-Vehicle Technology (Florida DOT)
This website, developed by the Florida Department of Transportation’s Safe Mobility for Life initiative, contains a quick reference guide on how the following ADAS technologies operate and advice on how to use them: back-up cameras; back-up warnings; forward collision warning; automatic emergency braking; blind spot warning; lane departure warning and lane keeping assist; drowsiness alert; adaptive cruise control; adaptive headlights; and navigation help.
MyCarDoesWhat? (National Safety Council)
This resource provides a comprehensive overview of 27 advanced vehicle technologies, including ADAS technologies. For each technology, the interactive website provides a variety of easy-to-understand details including: what the technology can and cannot do; a quick graphical and video guide for what is most important to know about the technology; information on how the technology works (what it does; the technology behind it; what you need to do; and tips for using it); common questions and answers about the technology; and resources for more detailed information. The website also includes a welcome video and sections where you can get more detailed information about technology, hear about the future of transportation technology, and read current news articles about ADAS technologies.
Smart DriverTEK Workshop (AARP)
This is a 90-minute, online or in-person, workshop to learn more about ADAS technologies and how they can keep older adults driving safely for longer. Topics in the course include: forward collision warnings; automatic electronic braking; adaptive cruise control; reverse safety (backing up) technologies; blind spot warnings; lane departure warnings; drowsy driver alerts; additional technologies (e.g., heads up displays) other featured technologies (smart headlights); limitation of technologies; and a discussion of the future of transportation. This course is free but requires registration.
Driver Safety Videos (AARP)
This series of videos provides brief explanations about how to use the following ADAS technologies as well as how they work: smart headlights; reverse monitoring (backing up) systems; blind spot warning systems; drowsy driver alerts; lane departure warning systems; crash mitigation systems; assistive parking systems; emergency response systems; voice activated systems; and stability control systems. Viewing these videos is free.
Recommended ADAS Technologies for Older Drivers (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute)
Researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) have developed a list of several technologies that they consider to be the best for enhancing the safe mobility of older drivers and drivers of all ages. Based on analyses of research articles about older adults and ADAS technology use, UMTRI’s own work on this topic, and expert opinions, the recommendation are based on three criteria issues:
The report describes 12 technologies that are recommended for older drivers along with live links to learn more about these technologies.
Declining Functional Abilities and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Technologies (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute)
As people age, they are more likely to experience declines in vision, movement, and thinking abilities (known as functional abilities) that are needed for safe driving. Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technologies may help people maintain safe driving for longer even when faced with declining functional abilities. There is little information, however, about which ADAS can be most useful for specific functional ability declines. Researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) have developed a table that provides recommended ADAS technologies based on declines in 28 functional abilities.
Maintaining Safe Driving: Relating Declines in Critical Driving Skills to Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Technologies (University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute)
As people age and begin to experience health conditions and take medication for these conditions, the driving skills that are needed for safe driving may also decline. Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technologies may help some drivers who are experiencing declines in driving abilities continue to drive safely. Researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute have developed a table that provides recommended ADAS technologies for those who are experiencing increasing difficulties in performing certain critical driving skills. The names of each ADAS are active links that can be clicked to obtain further information about the technology.
