Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Driving Safely: Chuck Weaver, an instructor for the 55 Alive Mature Driving course, demonstrates the importance of checking the flow of traffic by turning and looking rather than just relying on rearview mirrors.
AARP encouraging its elderly members to take driving course
Class is refresher to experienced drivers who may have some physical limitations
By Kate Carter
The American Association of Retired Persons wants to give more baby boomers a refresher driving course to keep them safely, and perhaps cheaply, behind the wheel.
The AARP's 55-Alive driving class teaches students over the age of 50 about old and new state driving laws.
The class, offered in locations throughout Willow Glen and the county, is also designed to give older drivers, who may have more experience, but less physical ability than younger drivers, tips for staying alert and confident on the road.
Chuck Weaver, 66, course coordinator at the AARP's Willow Glen office, says only 1 percent of those who take the driving course are between 50 and 54 years old; 85 percent are over 65 years old. He says class attendance is dropping off and he is trying to attract more younger people.
"They don't like to think of themselves as old," Weaver says of those who are eligible for AARP programs for people 50 and older.
But he says the driving course is as valuable for them as it is for older people. It's important for experienced drivers to be reminded of driving laws and defensive driving techniques, he says.
"The course basically brings them up to date, to remind them what they already know," Weaver says. "After they've been driving for 30 years, it's just a habit with them. They don't think about the hazards."
In addition, he says, as people age their senses and reflexes diminish, making it necessary for them to learn ways to compensate.
The class has potential monetary benefits as well, Weaver says. The Department of Motor Vehicles issues certificates for completing the course, good for three years, that can reduce motorists' insurance premiums.
Cynthia Michener, spokeswoman for The Hartford insurance, affiliated with the AARP, said the company offers a 5 to 10 percent discount on auto insurance to anyone who takes the course, regardless of age. Other insurance companies also honor the certificate.
The best reason to take the course, though, Weaver and his instructors say, is driving safely for as long as possible.
Kingdon Lou, 78, 55-Alive instructor at the AARP Center, 840 Willow St., says statistics show that drivers over 65 years old have fewer accidents than younger drivers. But, per mile driven, they have worse driving records, he says.
John Preovolos, 78, the 55-Alive instructor at the Willows Senior Center, says, "As we get older, our bodies and, unfortunately, our minds change. It's just training people to realize, while they may feel like kids, Father Time is striking every day."
The eight-hour course, taught in two four-hour sessions in a classroom, reminds older drivers to pay closer attention to their driving situations and their own capabilities.
Night and peripheral vision may be limited as one ages, and stiff necks and arthritic hands can make reaction times slower. The course encourages senior drivers to stretch before driving so they are ready to make quick movements, if needed. Medications and the effects of alcohol can also impair driving more than older people realize.
One section of the course discusses more modern phenomena, such as road rage, telling drivers to avoid driving while angry, or engaging an angry driver.
Another section of the course deals with what to do when it is time for someone to stop driving.
"When they're not good enough, well, then, they should hang up their keys," Lou says.
Lou, Preovolos and Weaver acknowledge how traumatic it is to tell someone, or admit to oneself, that it isn't safe to be behind the wheel any longer. No one wants to lose the freedom and independence of driving, they say, but it's better than getting oneself or others hurt or killed in an accident.
Signs that it might be time to quit driving are getting more tired driving, getting lost more often, having more minor scrapes and dents and having loved ones who are concerned about the situation.
Weaver says, if people are too uncomfortable asking someone to stop driving, they can report concerns about a driver to the person's physician, or directly to the DMV. The physician will conduct a medical evaluation, he says, and the DMV will retest the driver on paper and on the road.
In California, it is possible to obtain a restricted drivers license that prevents a person from driving during certain conditions, such as at night or on freeways, Weaver says.
Preovolos says it's important to act on concerns about a person's driving, before it's too late.
"There're ways to get around, although they're not always easy," he says.
The three senior instructors say they have benefited themselves by teaching the course.
"These things on freeways happen in a heartbeat," Weaver says. "I'm a better driver because I teach this class. Out there, it's dangerous, particularly around here."
Upcoming courses are scheduled for July, at the Willows Senior Center, the AARP Center and the Kirk Community Center in Willow Glen. For more information, call the center at 408.278.1855.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
