State officials convened in Norwalk Wednesday to talk about the challenge of keeping elderly drivers safe on state roads.

State police say that about 1 in 5 Connecticut drivers is a senior citizen. Their crash rates nearly mirror drivers in their 20s, according to AAA.

Connecticut has resisted additional driver testing or more consistent license renewal periods for seniors, but AAA has offered optional "refresher" driving classes. Studies show, however, that they have done little to reduce vehicular accidents.

The course also serves as an opportunity for older drivers to become aware of their shortcomings behind the wheel, and allow their families to decide how they want to handle them.

The meeting comes on the heels of a handful of senior-related car accidents in Connecticut, including last month when an elderly woman crashed into a Westport paint store, according to Westport police. Weeks before that, a senior citizen crashed into a Milford law office.