My father and I had a tradition of trying to be the first to fool one another on April Fools’ Day, and it was also my Dad who, after much pleading on my part, finally agreed to teach me to drive ... a major concession on his part since next to my mother and me, his car was the love of his life.
It seems quite fitting, therefore, that a column about the AARP Driver Safety course, which I just completed, appear today. I have taken this course every three years for some time now because doing so not only reduces my car insurance premiums, but I know it serves as a timely reminder to refresh and update my driving abilities.
Our congenial, small class was held at the Guilford Community Center, and our excellent volunteer instructor Cliff McGuire Jr. made the class interesting and fun with his sense of humor and ability to involve everyone in the material.
The new, revised course is only 4 hours, and in addition to the useful, large-print book, there is an excellent video. Even though, as a group, seniors are usually very good drivers, (rarely texting or talking on the cellphone while driving) we do need to compensate for certain age-related changes: poorer hearing and vision, slower reaction time, the effects of medications and lessened ability to judge distances.
Ways to correct this are to have your eyes and hearing checked regularly, requesting a special lens coating for your glasses to reduce nighttime glare, omitting the radio and other noises, and using the three-second rule to judge safe distances between yourself and other drivers.
I was surprised by how many road signs I could not identify just by their shape and color, and I was glad for the chance to jog my memory on this and other safe-driving habits, which I was probably using only some of the time. One of the most helpful lessons I took home from a previous class and use every day is the correct way to set your side mirrors so there is no “blind” spot. I can see approaching cars on either side of me, and now never pull out and then, in a panic, think, “Where did that car come from?”
Cliff also updated us on the following recently passed driving laws in Connecticut that most of us had not heard about:
A motorist approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its lights flashing must slow to a reasonable speed and move over one lane unless it is unsafe to do so.
Drivers must stay behind the white stop line when getting ready to make a left turn. Do not block the box.
Drivers should allow 3 feet between themselves and anyone on a bike.
Drivers are required to remove ice and snow from the hood, trunk and roof of their cars.
Safe driving classes are now given on line as well as at convenient locations throughout the state. There are free classes in November for veterans, for educators in July and August, and there are evening classes in May.
For the rest of us, if you are older than 50, costs are nominal, and classes are given year-round. Last year, more than 500,000 people took the Driver Safety program. Shouldn’t you?
Call 1-888-227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/drive.
Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotckiss Grove, Branford 06405.
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