(San Francisco, CA) Massachusetts is considering legislation to re-test older drivers in the wake of the summer’s high profile crashes. And now, AAA Southern New England is partnering with a leading brain fitness company to offer a new driver improvement software program designed for aging Bay State motorists.
San Francisco-based Posit Science is donating $1 million in software licenses for the innovative new DriveSharp program, to be distributed free of charge to every public library in the Commonwealth through a grant application program run by AAA. More than 11 thousand software licenses will be distributed, andthe program will be launched at a press event at the Newton Free Library in Newton Center Tuesday, November 10 at 2pm.
Our goal at Posit Science is to get science out of the labs and into the real world where it can make a difference in people’s lives,” says Steven Aldrich, CEO of Posit Science.
AAA Southern New England’s President and CEO Mark Shaw says he’s pleased to collaborate with Posit Science to extend the reach of the new software to residents across the state. “Our new partnership allows us to offer a ground-breaking educational tool that provides a solutions-based approach to the problem of declining cognitive skills related to driving. DriveSharp enables older motorists—and all of us—to re-build and re-focus those skills,” he adds.
DriveSharp is an interactive series of game-like computer exercises proven in independent studies to improve reaction time, reduce car crash risk by up to 50 percent, and improve stopping distance by as much as 22 feet at 55 miles per hour. It has been tested and recommended by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
At a time when driver re-testing is an issue in Massachusetts, and library resources are being cut due to fiscal constraints, this software donation could have a very positive impact on drivers,” says Robert Maier, Director of the state’s Board of Library Commissioners.
DriveSharp user Mary Anne Bigwood says, “The software made a real difference. I noticed things more easily in my field of vision, and I think it will help a lot of people.
In most cases, patrons have the option of using DriveSharp at their local library, or they may borrow the CD-ROM for use at home.