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.

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 course offered at Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County by Way2Go in partnership with AARP is coming back in September 2023. Course registration and details will be available on the CCE event page soon.

The classroom course is offered by AARP for a fee of $25 for current AARP members, or $30 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 August 3, 2023