AAA OFFERS ONLINE SAFETY TRAINING FOR OLDER DRIVERS

Program graduates can save up to 15% on auto insurance.

NEWS from AAA South Dakota, March 27 – Older South Dakotans can now learn how to be safer drivers and save money on their auto insurance, all at their home computer. AAA South Dakota is offering an online course for drivers age 50 and over which makes them eligible for discounts on their auto insurance of up to 15 percent.

“Until now, you had to spend all day in a classroom to receive these benefits,” said Mark Madeja, spokesman for AAA South Dakota. “Many older drivers had difficulty finding a convenient class. Now, it’s open to anyone anywhere, who has internet access.

What safe driving lessons can you teach to a person who’s had a license for 35 years or more? Quite a few, apparently. That’s why most of the insurance companies represented by AAA South Dakota, as well as many others, offer discounts on auto insurance to graduates of this online program.

Drivers age 80 and older have higher crash death rates per mile driven than any other group except teen drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. By 2030, people age 65 and older are expected to represent 25 percent of the driving population, according to the IIHS.

The mature driver safety course covers defensive driving techniques, traffic laws and ways to adapt to age related changes that can affect the skills and abilities needed to drive safely.  The program takes three to six hours to complete.

Information is available at the News & Safety section of www.AAA.com; click on Driver Training. The cost is $15.95 for AAA members and $19.95 for nonmembers. 

AAA is working with online driving school I Drive Safely to offer the service. I Drive Safely’s online courses have helped more than a million people become better drivers and lower their insurance rates.

“Our members frequently contact us looking for training to improve their driving skills as they grow older,” said Madeja. “Now, we have developed a way help them.”

AAA South Dakota, a not-for-profit membership organization, offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to its 89,000 members statewide. Since its founding more than 100 years ago, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.