WASHINGTON — The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety today launched a free, online version of AAA’s Roadwise Review, a tool designed to help seniors assess their driving health in the privacy of their homes.
“Our goal is to make Roadwise Review available to as many seniors, caregivers and family members as possible,” AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger said. “Roadwise Review allows seniors to check their driving ability conveniently and confidentially, something that is vitally important as we age.”
"Roadwise Review: A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer" measures physical and mental abilities shown to be the strongest predictors of crash risk among older drivers and provides feedback to guide the user about their ability to drive safely.
Roadwise Review uses an integrated data system that reports and provides users with confidential feedback about screening results. Using videos and easy-to-follow instructions, Roadwise Review screens drivers in eight functional areas:
* Leg strength and general mobility necessary to control acceleration and braking.
* Head and neck flexibility essential in checking blind spots, and for lane changes or merging.
* High contrast visual acuity needed to identify pavement markings, as well as to detect hazards in or near the road.
* Low visual acuity vital for driving in low-visibility conditions such as dusk, rain or fog.
* Working memory important in following directions, remembering traffic rules and regulations, and using information on highway guide signs.
* Visualization of missing information helps a driver recognize hazards even when partially hidden from view.
* Visual search for the ability to quickly find and recognize traffic signs and landmarks.
Useful field of view ensures drivers can pay attention to what is happening right in front of them while also noticing safety threats at the edge of their field of view.
The online version automatically uninstalls itself after use, but does allow the user the option to save results to the computer on which the program is being accessed. As with the previous version of Roadwise Review, no personal data or scores are reported so results remain confidential.
To learn more about or try Roadwise Review, visit SeniorDrivers.org or AAASeniors.com.
