AARP’s Driver Safety Program a boon to seniors

Driving in the rain or even a light drizzle can be tough, especially if your windshield wipers are falling down on the job. Images just aren’t as sharp. Okay, so new wipers are an easy and quick fix, but some causes of visual impairment are beyond your control.

Drivers who do not turn on their headlights when it is raining put everyone at risk. Never mind that it’s a state law that if windshield wipers are engaged, lights must be on. One of the things cars need most on the road is good visibility. Without it you’re just asking for trouble.

“Seniors’ eyes don’t contrast well,” said Sylvia Smith, 71, instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program. “It is difficult for them to tell how fast a car is traveling or how far away the car is from them. This can make turning from a secondary road or a driveway into traffic hazardous. Depth perception can be a problem, so they may need a larger gap to get into the flow of traffic. Lights just make cars easier to see and that is better for everybody.

“Backing up can also be a problem because of neck stiffness or back problems,” she added. “We’ll do exercises in class that can help with flexibility. If you are a timid driver, you may have more accidents. We try to help seniors with driver confidence.”

Smith stresses the importance of defensive driving, reminding seniors to always look both ways before proceeding through a green light. It’s best to never assume that the other driver is going to stop.

“Seniors have started telling me that driving is different now than it used to be,” said Smith. “Other drivers seem to be more impatient now and do things like run red lights, pass on the right, and are often generally distracted because they are talking on a cell phone. Seniors have also been reporting that they seem to be getting more ‘cut-off’ than ever before. We will talk about these things during the course.”

Classes are limited to about 25 participants and there is a $10 fee, which covers the cost of materials including a user-friendly workbook. After completing the course, participants will receive a certificate, which will entitle them to a discount on their insurance rates.

“Some people don’t take the class because they are afraid there is a road or written test,” said Smith. “But there is no test. We just want to get the information to them and brush up their skills.”

One of the biggest mistakes that older drivers make is not yielding the right of way to other cars, said Smith. “Or confusing the gas pedal for the brake.”

But one of the goals of the class is to make seniors aware of these situations and to curb driver inattention, which can be a major problem, she said.

“Some seniors concentrate so hard on their destination that they fail to look around while en route,” she added.

While the AARP Driver Safety Program is open to anyone, it is specifically tailored to the mature driver, addressing changes that occur from the aging process. The class covers topics including difficult traffic situations, what to do if confronted by an aggressive driver and potential trouble areas such as parking lots, skidding and blind spots.

Eastern Agency on Aging is offering the driver safety class Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 9 and 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in its Bangor offices, 450 Essex St. To reserve your space, please call 941-2865.

“I’ve been teaching this class for seven years,” said Smith. “And I love it more each year.”

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For more information on EAA, at 941-2865 or log on www.eaaa.org.