AARP Driver Safety Program History and Facts
The Early Years
AARP has been involved in driver improvement education since 1969, when AARP volunteers began teaching the Defensive Driving Course (DDC) of the National Safety Council (NSC). Between 1969 and 1979, over 400,000 individuals completed the course, and over 4,500 volunteer instructors had been trained to teach the course.
The DDC program was designed for all drivers age 16 and over. Convinced that older drivers should have a training program of their own, AARP decided to create one, and in 1979, the AARP Driver Safety Program (then called "55 ALIVE") was born.
55 ALIVE, begun in 1979, continued to teach defensive driving techniques, but added information on age-related cognitive and physical changes that affect driving, and how to adjust driving in response to those changes.
As opposed to younger drivers, whose typical violations include speeding, reckless driving and DWI offenses, older drivers' typical violations include failure to yield right-of-way, improper turning, and incorrect lane changing. Generally, older drivers have problems in driving situations that require quick response, full vision, and interaction with other drivers.
Program Growth and Changes
Throughout the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's the program continued to thrive, mainly due to increased acceptance by insurance companies and an increasing number of states passing laws which mandated automobile insurance discounts to graduates of the course. The first of these mandatory discount laws was passed in 1981, and the most recent was passed in 2001. Currently, 36 states plus the District of Columbia have passed such laws.
Impact on Driving Behavior
Numerous evaluations by government entities as well as insurance companies were conducted on the program throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Most of the research showed a strong and statistically significant correlation of the course to reductions in traffic violations. The relation of the course to actual reduction in crashes, in most cases, was not statistically significant. However, self-reports by program participants have indicated behavior change, with 4 out of 5 graduates reporting that they adjusted their driving behavior as a result of taking the class.
AARP Driver Safety Program Today
Today, having graduated over 9 million persons since its inception, the AARP Driver Safety Program remains one of AARP's most visible community service programs, and is a key element of AARP's efforts to support "livable communities". The goal of livable communities is to ensure, enhance and sustain mobility and housing options which enable persons age 50+ to remain in their communities.
AARP Driver Safety Program continues to grow each year, and undergoes major revision and updating every few years. Currently the program is considering additional ways of disseminating driver safety information, including special seminars and on-line programs. As the ranks of older drivers swell over the next few decades, the AARP Driver Safety Program will be there to help ensure that individuals retain their driving competencies to the maximum extent possible.
Quick Facts
- Each year approximately 34,000 classes are held in communities nationwide.
- Each year over 700,000 people complete the AARP Driver Safety Program nationwide.
- The AARP Driver Safety Program is taught by over 10,000 AARP-trained volunteers.
- See a state-by-state summary of AARP Driver Safety Program courses, graduates, and volunteers for 2003.
- Approximately 1% of the eligible driving population age 50+ take our program each year
- Four out of five of our graduates tell us they change driving behavior as a result of taking our course
- Insurance savings by people who complete our course were valued at least $45.5 million in 2002 (based on at least a $25 per graduate savings for 3-years in insurance discount mandated states).
