AAA Texas Provides Seniors With A New Tool To Help Keep Them Safe Behind The Wheel.

IRVING, Texas -- A new computer program that will help seniors self-assess their "driving health" in the privacy of their homes is now available in all AAA Texas offices.

"Roadwise Review" is a CD-ROM program developed by AAA and other transportation experts. It includes scientifically validated testing of eight physical and mental skills that studies have shown are vital to safe driving. It is available at AAA Texas offices for the nominal fee of $5 for members and $7 for non-members. Within the next month it will also be available for free use at many libraries and senior centers throughout the state.

"As we get older, we all start to experience physical changes that can impact our driving abilities," said Rose Rougeau, AAA Texas spokesperson. "Because these changes often happen gradually, we may not even be aware of them. 'Roadwise Review' gives seniors objective feedback on their driving-related physical and mental skills, and offers specific recommendations so they can adjust their driving habits accordingly."

AAA recommends that seniors use "Roadwise Review" annually to assess their skills, just like their regular doctor's checkup. The entire program takes about 40 minutes to perform and can be paused and restarted. It is designed to be taken with the assistance of a partner, such as a spouse, a friend, a child or a grandchild. It tests abilities such as leg strength, visual acuity and memory.

"Seniors who have gone through the test have told us it is fun and easy to use," Rougeau said.

Most seniors are safe drivers. However, a national study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute for AAA has shown that drivers over age 65 are almost twice as likely to die in vehicle crashes as those aged 55 to 64. Lapses in visual and perception skills can increase drivers' likelihood of causing a crash as they age, and they are also more likely to die in crashes because of their increased physical frailty. The aim of "Roadwise Review" is to reduce those crashes by helping seniors to adapt their driving habits if necessary, and also to help them determine whether they still have the skills they need to continue driving.

The "Roadwise Review" program is the latest development in AAA's Senior Mobility Initiative, which began two years ago. AAA launched the special effort to improve safety for senior drivers because of the expected surge in the senior driver population as the "baby boomer" generation starts to retire.

As part of the effort, AAA is advocating changes in public policy and vehicle design, such as larger-print street signs and simplified vehicle dashboards, that will allow seniors to drive safely for as long as possible.

In addition to "Roadwise Review," senior drivers can also visit AAA for free educational pamphlets on special driving challenges they may face.

Over the next few weeks, seniors can check AAA's Web site, www.aaa-texas.com, for a complete listing of libraries and senior centers that have accepted donated copies of the "Roadwise Review" program from AAA Texas.

The CD-ROM program is designed for use on personal computers (not Macintosh) running Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows ME. It may also work on computers with Windows 98 if the computer has an upgraded video card and/or amount of RAM. Anyone who has trouble installing the program can e-mail AAA at [e-mail] for assistance.

AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas' members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.