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2007 AARP Driver Safety Program Course Evaluation

Research Report

Laura Skufca, AARP Knowledge Management

January 2008


The AARP Driver Safety Program (DSP) is the nation's first and largest classroom course for drivers age 50 and older. The program was created to encourage safe driving among older Americans. A survey of 5,340 DSP participants sought to determine whether participants had changed any of 17 key driving behaviors (e.g., avoiding left turns or limiting driving) as a result of what they had learned in the course.

The study found that:

  • Almost all participants (95%) had changed at least one key driving behavior. In fact, the average number of behaviors changed was six.
  • The most common behaviors changed were always checking blind spots (74%), following distance and space cushion (65%), and keeping one's eyes moving/scanning traffic (60%). The least cited behavior changed was considering limiting or stopping driving (5%).
  • Older participants and participants who had taken the DSP course more than once tended to report more behavior change than younger participants and those who had taken the class for the first time.
  • Satisfaction in the DSP course is very high. Most important, one-third of non-members said they would be more likely to join AARP as a result of the course.

This mail survey was conducted for AARP by SAID, Inc. among 5,340 DSP participants who took the course between the months of May and August 2007. Further information about the study may be obtained from its author, Laura Skufca, at 202-434-6285. (20 pages)