In observation of Older Driver Safety Week, the Shapiro Administration recently highlighted the resources the commonwealth provides older drivers to address the unique challenges they face. A quarter of Pennsylvania's licensed drivers are 65 years of age or older.

Pennsylvania has a network of shared-ride service providers dedicated to keeping older adults mobile, safe, and engaged in their community. This free transportation program allows citizens age 65 or older to ride for free on a local, fixed-route service whenever local public transportation is operating.

Additionally, working with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and transit agencies, PennDOT developed an online tool called Find My Ride, which allows older drivers to access free ride services online. The app allows transit agencies to process applications more efficiently, so users can access benefits more quickly. The app can be found at http://www.penndot.pa.gov by clicking on Travel in PA, then Public Transit Options.

Representatives from PennDOT, Pennsylvania Department of Aging, Pennsylvania State Police, AAA and AARP recently visited The Manor at Oakridge to share advice and methods for helping residents safely extend their years on the road. Advice ranged from knowledge of current and less emphasized laws to recognizing signs that it may be time to give up driving. For example, one program discussed was CarFit, an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association. CarFit is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle, to share how drivers can improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility.

Older drivers are reminded they may be eligible for a discount on their insurance if they take a mature driver course. A list of approved mature driver courses available can be found online by visiting http://www.dmv.pa.gov and looking under Driver Services and Mature Drivers, then Mature Driver Improvement Course. Changes to insurance may also be warranted if a person is driving less than he or she used to; drivers should contact their insurance company for more details.

While every person ages differently, aging typically brings certain - sometimes subtle - physical, visual, and cognitive changes that could impair an older person's ability to drive safely. Older drivers and their families should work together to identify potential issues that may affect driving, outline courses of action to assist the older driver, and plan for when it is time to hang up the keys.

Signs that can indicate it may be time to limit or stop driving altogether include feeling uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous when driving; unexplained dents or scrapes on the car, fences, mailboxes, or garage doors; frequently getting lost and frequent close calls, such as almost crashing; slower response times, particularly to unexpected situations; difficulty paying attention to signs or staying in the lane of traffic; and trouble judging gaps at intersections or highway entrance or exit ramps.

Older drivers and their loved ones may review the resources at http://www.dmv.pa.gov under Driver Services and Mature Drivers. PennDOT offers resources that can help older drivers assess their abilities and offer guidance on next steps if a driver's medical condition is reported to PennDOT. The website also includes information to help family members and friends of older drivers in conversations about deciding to stop driving, as well as information for health care providers on PennDOT's medical reporting program.

The following safe-driving habits, which should be routine at any age, may be especially useful to older drivers.

People should plan ahead so they can make lengthy car trips during daylight hours. Morning may be best because most people are not as tired as they are in the afternoon. Also, when driving long distances, especially in winter, people should call ahead for weather and road condition updates.

Rush-hour traffic should be avoided if possible. People should plan trips after 9 a.m. or before 5 p.m. and know what roads near home are most congested and avoid them.

Good drivers get a jump on trouble by looking far down the road and making adjustments before encountering problems that may involve other vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists or animals.

Drivers must also maintain a safe speed. This speed is determined by what the road is like, how well the driver can see, how much traffic there is and how fast traffic is moving.

People should keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of them. The PA Driver's Manual advises that drivers should always keep a 4-second gap between them and the vehicle in front of them.

Drivers should always wear a seatbelt, and they should have eye exams regularly. They should also be aware of the effects their medications may have on their ability to drive.

For additional information on transportation resources, visit http://www.aging.pa.gov and click on Programs & Services and then Transportation.