SACRAMENTO – The California Highway Patrol has launched its “Age Well, Drive Smart” program for 2019, offering classes to assist senior drivers by providing them tools to remain safe and confident on the road.

Every year, as the percentage of drivers age 65 and older increases, many look to the CHP to help them maintain their ability to drive safely.

The one-year, $150,000 Keeping Everyone Safe, or KEYS, grant, which started October 1, supports the CHP’s “Age Well, Drive Smart” classes that help familiarize older drivers with current California driving laws and safe driving practices.

Aging leads to changes in physical, mental, and sensory skills that affect a person’s ability to drive safely, but senior drivers may not be aware of these changes. For many older drivers, a broader awareness of the solutions, rather than a focus on the problem, is the key to continued safe driving.

The Age Well, Drive Smart program includes a self-assessment to help senior drivers identify these changes and make corrections.

The “Age Well, Drive Smart” curriculum covers current California driving laws, safe driving practices, and the effects of aging on a person’s ability to drive safely, and includes a self-assessment component to help identify these changes and offer possible corrective options.

“Helping seniors continue to drive safely is key to their independence and the safety of the motoring public,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley. “The ‘Age Well, Drive Smart’ program provides additional education to seniors and their families to ensure they are able to drive well into their golden years.”

The two-hour class is offered free of charge at CHP Area offices and other venues, such as senior centers, throughout California.

If you or a family member would like to attend an “Age Well, Drive Smart” class, please contact the Newhall Area CHP office.

To locate an office elsewhere in the state, visit www.chp.ca.gov.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.