July 14, 2009 - AAA launched a new senior safety
and mobility Web site,
www.AAASeniors.com, in June. It includes content and resources based
on extensive research, provides families of older drivers with valuable
information related to senior mobility challenges and tools to help
extend safe driving.
It also offers assistance in difficult discussions
about transitioning from driver to passenger, according to the news
release.
“According to our research, many adult children of
older drivers – the ‘sandwich’ boomers – are unaware that resources
exist to effectively address the safety and mobility challenges of
senior drivers,” said AAA Vice President of Public Affairs Kathleen
Marvaso.
“AAASeniors.com gives seniors and their families
the tools necessary to create an action plan to help seniors manage the
inevitable consequences of aging, continue to drive safely or transition
to alternative modes of transportation, and remain independent.”
AAASeniors.com provides expert advice about how
aging affects one’s ability to drive safely. Visitors will find a
step-by-step guide on how to begin a conversation with an older driver
about working together to develop a plan for the transition from driver
to passenger.
Additionally, visitors will find a variety of tools
and resources from educational brochures and driver improvement courses,
to tips on choosing a vehicle, to skill assessment tools and free
community-based programs.
Seniors expert
Alexis Abramson, PhD, offers advice - more at
www.AAASeniors.com
“Many adult children, grandchildren and seniors
will at some point be faced with a difficult decision about a mature
adult’s ability to drive safely,” said Dr. Alexis Abramson, one of the
nation’s leading gerontologists.
“I can’t stress enough how important it
is to be proactive in developing a plan of action based on factual,
compassionate and objective information, such as that found at AAASeniors.com.”
People who are 65 years old or older represent the
fastest growing segment of the country’s population. According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, one in four drivers – more than 30 million – will be
age 65 or older by 2030.
“With more Americans remaining active and living
longer than ever before, the AAA senior driver safety tools and
resources found on AAASeniors.com are designed to keep seniors safe and
mobile as long as possible,” Marvaso added.
About American Automobile Association, now AAA
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.
The American Automobile Association was founded on
March 4, 1902, in Chicago, Illinois as a response to a lack of roads and
highways suitable for automobiles.
Members belong to one of 69 individual clubs (such
as AAA Northwest Ohio, AAA Mid-Atlantic, AAA Northern California, Nevada
& Utah, the Automobile Club of Southern California, AAA Oregon/Idaho, or
Auto Club South, for example), and the clubs in turn own AAA.
The member clubs have arranged a reciprocal service
system so that members of any participating club are able to receive
member services from any other affiliate club. Member dues finance all
club services as well as the operations of the national organization.
AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at
AAA.com.
From the standpoint of the consumer, AAA clubs
primarily provide emergency road services to members. Clubs also
distribute road maps and travel publications (TourBooks), and rate
restaurants and hotels according to a "diamond" scale (one to five). The
best hotels and restaurants according to AAA's criteria receive the Five
Diamond Award. Many offices sell automobile liability insurance, provide
travel agency, auto-registration and notary services. Maps, TourBooks,
and travel agent services are generally free to members. AAA also offers
member discounts at places like Payless ShoeSource and LensCrafters, and
in some regions Burger King, Pizza Hut and Arby's through its "Show Your
Card & Save" program.
