SACRAMENTO – With the busy holiday season and the New Year upon us, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is supporting the independence of our most experienced drivers on the road. As part of the CHP’s mission of providing the 
highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to people throughout the state, the CHP aims to maintain and improve traffic safety and mobility for California’s senior drivers.
Thus, the CHP joins with the American Occupation Therapy Association (AOTA) in promoting the importance and value of mobility and transportation to ensure older adults remain active in their community by maintaining their access to transportation options. We want no barrier to come between seniors and their communities and loved ones.
“This is a perfect opportunity to discuss with family and friends the topic of older drivers being safe behind the wheel while continuing to be active members of our communities,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “With the holiday travel season upon us, this traffic safety campaign will help enhance safety for everyone by addressing the mobility needs of California’s older drivers.”
According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), in 2012 there were more than 111,000 drivers over 65 years of age involved in a collision. Among those senior drivers involved in a collision, more than 560 were killed and nearly 36,000 suffered injuries. Senior drivers were found to be at fault in 66 percent of those collisions.
To help California’s seniors maintain their driving independence for as long as they can safely drive, the CHP offers a two-hour “Age Well, Drive Smart” course. The program is supported by the Keeping Everyone Safe grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Through this program seniors can tune up their driving skills, refresh their knowledge of the rules of the road, and learn about normal age-related physical and mental changes and how to adjust to them. To find out when the next Age Well, Drive Smart course is being offered, call your local CHP office or visit us online at www.chp.ca.gov.