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Older drivers study
Partly in response to that accident, the General Assembly ordered a study of accident statistics and what the state is doing to keep older drivers on the road safely. An interim report is due in January. A final report, due by the end of 2013, will look at laws around the country affecting older drivers and possibly propose changes to Maryland's laws, said Andrew Krajewski, director of driver safety at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.

That report will include interviews with older drivers about the most effective ways to be screened and what the state can do to help them be safe on the roadways.

"We want to see what are the unique things working in other states and see what viable solutions exist," Krajewski said.

He said the report will likely look at classes like AARP Driver Safety.

For years, Maryland has required drivers 40 and over who renew by mail to provide proof of a vision test. However, Maryland drivers will now be screened less frequently than they had been previously. As of October, the state began to phase in a new law that extends all driver's license renewals to every eight years instead of the current five years.

The AARP Driver Safety course costs $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. An online course is $15.95 for AARP members; $19.95 for nonmembers. To find a class, enter a ZIP code at the Driver Safety course locator. To volunteer to teach the class, contact Ted Peterkin at Peterkin1@verizon.net to volunteer as a Driver Safety instructor.

Suzanne Struglinski is a freelance writer and editor living in Gaithersburg, Md.

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