A COMPENDIUM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OLDER DRIVER PROGRAMS

Index
Introduction
Alabama
Arizona
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Ohio
Ontario, Canada
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin
Other Resources

OHIO

Motor vehicle crash prevention courses for drivers 60 and older must be approved by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and meet specific criteria. In fact, all courses include at least eight hours of classroom instruction, practical exercises, and a written exam. Twelve driving schools throughout Ohio offer the classes.

In addition to the driving schools, the Superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel wrote a column in August 2001, "Patrol Advocates Safe Driving Skills for Mature Drivers," which appears on the department's web page. The informative article addresses independence, statistics, aging and driving skills, self-assessment, traffic safety tips, and passenger safety information. The Ohio State Highway Patrol provides information on the mature driver safety at its booth at the Ohio State Fair.

Contact:

Ohio State Highway Patrol
1970 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43223
Web site: www.state.oh.us/ohiostatepatrol/

The Ross County, Ohio Sheriff's Office supplements the AARP Driver Safety Program classes at the Ross County Senior Citizens Center with hands-on practical exercises. The sheriff's office enhances the program with a Drug Abuse Resistance and Education (D.A.R.E.) program's drunk driving simulation. Accompanied by a deputy sheriff, class participants drive a golf cart through a designated coned course while wearing impaired vision goggles. The goggles simulate the visual effects of someone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Sgt. Dale Gillette, a certified Driver Safety Program Instructor, emphasizes to participants that prescribed medication(s) can impair driving. During the classroom portion of the training, a state trooper from the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducts a question and answer period, speaking at length about various laws and explaining laws that have recently changed.

The sheriff's office provides information to older drivers, through the local newspaper as a public service, about the risks associated with driving while impaired by certain medication(s) and the aging process that can cause bodily changes that make driving more difficult. The effects of reduced vision and poor eyesight is addressed in the announcements.

In addition to the training for older drivers, the sheriff's office conducts Alzheimer's disease and other dementia identification training for its deputies. The training is conducted and sponsored by the Valley View Alzheimer's Care Center in Frankfort, Ohio and the sheriff's office. The deputies receive training in how to treat, communicate, and interact with Alzheimer's victims, and how to identify people who have the disease.

Contact:

Sergeant Dale Gillette
Ross County Sheriff's Office
28 North Paint Street
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Web site: www.rosssheriff.com/
Phone: (740) 773-1186
Fax: (740) 773-1248
E-mail: crimediv@rosssheriff.com