Seniors touch up driving skills
Warren County’s Senior Friends got the chance to brush up on their driving education Friday when River Park hospital played host to a driving safety course sponsored by AARP.
“Senior Friends is a national organization,” said local coordinator Dawn Dayton, “and River Park has its own chapter. We try to sponsor educational opportunities, health screenings, and this AARP class that’s given every year.”
The class was taught by Beth Malone, a volunteer certified instructor, who said the class is designed to provide a wide range of information for older drivers. Malone said the class is especially important for that segment of the population.
“A lot of people 50 and over have never had a driving class, so to speak, because drivers education didn’t start in high school until back in the mid-’60s,” Malone said. “So what we do is we just make them aware of the current law as it pertains to driving. We also make them aware that the two things this age group has a problem with are making proper left-hand turns and knowing what to do in intersections.
Some of those attending the class acknowledged the benefits of brushing up on their driving knowledge.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Naomi Pedigo. “It makes us more aware, as we grow older, of what we need to be thinking about when we’re driving.”
Besides the obvious benefit of learning proper driving techniques, the class provides some other advantages for those who take the course. According to Malone, taking the class can result in a 5 to 10 percent discount on insurance premiums.
Malone said she keeps abreast of any changes in driving laws so she can pass those along to her classes.
The River Park Senior Friends have a particular advantage over some counties in the region, according to Malone.
“Another thing that’s so unique to this class is that in most places to take this class you have to pay a $10 fee, but Edd Rogers, one of your local automotive places here, takes care of everybody’s fee, which is nice,” she said.
The classes are held twice a year in Warren County, one in the early spring and one in the fall, Malone said, with class sizes ranging from 20 to 30 people. For more information on future classes and the Senior Friends organization, contact Dawn Dayton at River Park Hospital at 815-4000.