Driver Safety

More than 60 years ago, AAA pioneered formal driver training. Since 1993, some 2.5 million people have completed driver improvement programs.

Driver Education. In 1935, AAA pioneered formal driver training. The first club owned and operated driving school opened in Pennsylvania in 1936. The first edition of Sportsmanlike Driving was released in 1938. Now published as Responsible Driving, the textbook is in its 11th edition. Since 1980, more than a million copies have been sold. New and experienced drivers also get advice on managing driving risks from AAA's revised How to Drive manual, now in its ninth edition.

Novice Drivers. Licensed to Learn. A Safety Program for New Drivers is the association's latest novice driver initiative. AAA supports efforts to mandate more supervised behind-the-wheel driving experience, implement national driver education course standards and institute uniform instructor qualifications.

The educational aspect of the program, AAA's Teaching Your Teens to Drive. A Partnership for Survival, focuses on parental involvement to combat the leading cause of death among teenagers —motor vehicle crashes. It features a colorfully illustrated handbook, teacher guide, live-action video and an interactive CD-ROM for use at home or as part of a high school or commercial driver education course.

Vehicle Laws and Regulations. AAA's Digest of Motor Laws summarizes laws and regulations governing registration and operation of passenger vehicles in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. possessions and Canadian provinces.

Driver Improvement. AAA's Managing Visibility, Time and Space and Safe Driving for Mature Operators driver improvement programs provide information on how to manage driving risks and help traffic violators, law enforcement officials, fleet operators, drivers over age 55 and others improve driving performance. Today, about 2,000 instructors from the military service, law enforcement agencies, utility companies, insurance companies, government agencies and AAA clubs teach these courses to more than 500,000 people each year. Successful completion of these programs results in insurance premium discounts or traffic violator point reductions in 35 states. Since 1993, more than 3 million people have taken a Driver Improvement Program course.

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