Defensive driving courses can reduce your auto insurance rates.
Driver Education
Each year, more than 38,000 people die every year in crashes on U.S. roadways and an additional 4.4 million are injured seriously enough to require medical attention. Take charge of your transportation and safety by freshening up your defensive driving habits every 18 months and staying informed of new road rules and laws.
Update: Take an online driver safety course. The in-person events have been postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
AARP Smart Driver Courses
The AARP website offers online courses, information, resources, as well as schedule and location of in-person defensive driving courses when available.
The in-person workshops offered at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County by Way2Go in partnership with AARP have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The classroom course is offered by AARP for a fee of $20.00 for current AARP members, or $25.00 for non-members. This is the nation's oldest refresher course for all drivers, with a focus on older adults. There are no tests and the entire course is classroom-based.
CARFIT AAA Online Safety Program
Learn why the proper fit in your vehicle is essential for both your safety and the safety of others on the road. CarFit was developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. It’s a community-based program that provides a quick, yet comprehensive 12-point check of how well you and your car work together.
Local Defensive Driving Programs
TST BOCES Defensive Driving Course
Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES offers a six-hour Defensive Driving course. Call 607-257-1561 to register, or email:
smurphy@tstboces.org for more information.
Learn Well School of Driving
Learn to drive with patient skilled NYS licensed instructors at
Learn Well School of Driving.
Special attention is given to foreign students, young drivers,senior citizens, road testpreparation, highway driving, nervous drivers & defensive driving. Call 607-546-2192 or
email for more information.
Other Online Driving Resources
The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Visit the
DMV for additional information on point reduction and classroom or online courses.
Online Defensive Driving Courses
Visit the
New York Safety Council for information on choosing an online driving course.
DMV Practice Tests around the US
Find DMV Practice Test for New York State or other states in the US.
ePermit Test
DMV practice tests are available through
the ePermit Test along with additional driver resources.
Child Seat Safety Programs
Visit Tompkins County
Child Seat Program or Ithaca City Car Seat Program for vehicle child safety activities.
Roadside Assistance Visit
AAA of Western & Central NY, Allstate Motor Club,or Better World Club for roadside assistance.
Last updated March 23, 2022
Postponed until 2022
Many people are looking forward to the resumption of in-person Driver Safety courses at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County. Unfortunately, the in-person AARP’s Driver Safety courses will be postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This additional time will allow for further distribution of vaccines and, ultimately, a significant downward trend in cases. While there have been positive reports related to COVID-19 vaccines, 95% of counties in the U.S. do not meet AARP’s criteria to safely resume in-person activities. AARP is using statistical county-by-county maps to determine when in-person classes can be offered.
When classroom courses resume, the price will be $25 for AARP members and $30 for non-members. Stay tuned for further updates later this year.
Online AARP courses are available all year, learn more by browsing this page.
Aging & Driving Resources
Senior Drivers, Alternative Transportation, & Family Conversations
Older drivers and their friends and family are often concerned with whether and how older drivers can stay safe longer. Way2Go can consult with individuals, family members, or helping professionals to offer information and resources on all of these topics. Learn more on Aging & Driving
When classroom courses resume, the price will be $25 for AARP members and $30 for non-members. Stay tuned for further updates later this year.
Online AARP courses are available all year, learn more by browsing this page.