New program designed to assist older drivers

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Elderly Mount Pleasant residents who feel they need a refresher course in driving can do so with a new program in the Health Professions Building.

Central Michigan University has recently established a Center for Driving Evaluation, Education and Research.

The DEER program is set up to increase the safety of drivers and to reduce the number of fatal and minor crashes among older drivers. Director of DEER Richard Backs said the program can help determine who should be on the road.

“This center will help older adults, persons with brain injury or stroke, and persons with neurodegenerative diseases decide whether to modify or cease driving or help them decide that they are safe to resume driving,” Backs said.

The DEER Center will be hosting an open house at 1 p.m. today in the Health Professions Building Atrium. Students can receive tours of the facility from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

There are three phases of evaluation in the DEER program that include visual motor testing, computer-based testing and an actual driving simulation. AAA of Michigan helped CMU purchase the driving simulator that is based on actual vehicle specifications and has a 180-degree field of view, Backs said.

Backs said this program will benefit CMU.

“It will contribute to CMU’s public service mission and will be a place where students can interact with older adults who have driving concerns,” Backs said. “It will also help CMU be more competitive for external grants and contracts to conduct research on attention and older drivers and on adults with attention disorders.”

Frankenmuth senior Jason Maurer said this type of program will help keep drivers safe as well as keep dangerous ones off the road.

“There are a lot of people on the road that shouldn’t be at all,” Maurer said. “This program might help people see that they don’t have the proper skills necessary to operate a vehicle anymore.”

Evaluation for the program will be conducted by graduate students and faculty staff. Anyone who wants to be evaluated must get a physician’s referral first.

Other than becoming a state-of-the-art facility, the DEER Center’s goals are to become nationally known for driving research on older citizens, to provide research for students and faculty and to establish a relationship between the community and the university.

Niles senior Kyle Kidwell said although the program seems to be helpful, it doesn’t seem necessary.

“They are helpful for individuals who need to learn how to drive better, but this isn’t a very necessary program for CMU,” she said.

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