Overview and Objectives

The AARP Driver Safety Program has collaborated with the MIT AgeLab to create the National Older Driver Safety Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is intended to improve the mobility and safety of older adults across the nation. Specific objectives of the Advisory Council are to:

• Serve as an independent voice on current developments and research in mobility, safety and aging.
• Provide AARP with expert consensus on driver education information and practice.
• Identify technological and practical innovations in driver safety.
• Validate best practices and information from around the world.
• Advise on driver education and curriculum content.
• Actively translate and advise on developments in practice, policy and research into driver education and curriculum content.

Although the older driver issue has been a research, policy and education topic for at least sixty years, there has never been a single body of global thought leaders, practitioners, researchers, educators and recognized experts dedicated to ensuring that the best thinking is available and translated into driver education programs, outreach and curriculum.

The formation of the National Driver Safety Advisory Council and each of these objectives support the AARP's strategic social impact goal to ensure that "People 50+ will have independence, choice, and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable for them and society as a whole."