AARP Driving Safety Program At Senior Center

By Nancy K. Crevier

Two dozen seniors gathered at the Newtown Senior Center Monday, October 17, and Tuesday, October 18, to take part in an eight-hour driver safety course sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The group met from 9 am to 1 pm both days, reviewing state laws and safety practices through the use of a workbook, videos, and slides under the direction of AARP volunteer and Newtown resident Dorothea La Belle.

At 84, Ms La Belle has been offering the course to other seniors for the past 15 years, usually presenting the program at least twice a year.

“We have an excellent video on driving with trucks on the road,” she said, “and the slides show statistics about the causes of accidents, as well as vision concerns.” As hearing abilities decrease with age, she explained, seniors must rely on their eyes at times for visual cues when behind the wheel. “You might not hear a siren, but if you see other people moving over, or see flashing lights, you know to move over,” she said.

Seniors who take the course receive a certificate of completion and are often eligible for an automobile insurance discount. In Connecticut, the discount varies from company to company, says Randy Oberg of Oberg Insurance Agency in Newtown. “The discount is really a small percentage,” he said, but added that it is always a good thing for seniors to take the AARP driving course. “Once you are over 70, the rates go up every year.”

The biggest benefit, of course, is the self-assurance seniors gain as they share driving tips and sharpen their knowledge of rules of the road. One of the workbook quizzes tests takers on their recognition of traffic sign shapes. “The quiz is kind of fun,” said Ms La Belle. “You see this all the time. You see the shape and the color; it helps you ahead of time.”

Recognizing the sign shapes was easy for the most part, but one horizontal, rectangular shape mystified quite a few seniors in the class. “That one is for guidance,” prompted Ms La Belle, “or for historical information.”

Class participants discussed common frustrations such as overly bright halogen headlights, tailgaters, tinted windows, drivers who speed up and slow down inconsistently with traffic, deer, and one, big, tall problem in the center of Main Street: the flagpole.

“Why aren’t there lights on that flagpole? Hasn’t anyone ever approached the selectman about this?” wondered one senior, who said she was new to Newtown. Amid shaking heads from those who have lived through the many debates surrounding the flagpole over the years, Ms La Belle offered, “You have to be very careful at the flagpole. Be aware of people [in other cars] going around cars turning onto Church Hill from Route 6 at the pole.” She reminded the class that drivers on Route 6 actually have the right of way at the flagpole.

Another reminder Ms La Belle passed on was that while some drivers may feel safer traveling in the left lane of the highway, where they do not have to deal with entering traffic, it is not a good driving practice. “Keep right except to pass,” she urged. Slow drivers in the left lane can contribute to accidents.

Keep your lights on for safety, especially on foggy or hazy days, or at dusk, Ms La Belle suggested. A comfortable seat that keeps you well supported can aide driving, and she reminded seniors to lower high beams at night for on-coming traffic. Watch other drivers on the road for clues to road safety, she recommended. A driver ahead of you may be able to see a danger at the roadside or up ahead that you cannot, she said.

Finally, Ms La Belle threw out this question to the seniors at the seminar: What should states do to assess driver capability for seniors? Many present agreed that driver retesting would be a practical solution, at least once a driver reaches the age of 80. “Driver testing takes a lot of money, though,” Ms La Belle told them.

The AARP driving safety program is one way seniors can keep their driving skills honed, learn to drive defensively and learn how to deal with aggressive drivers.  It is a great way to get back in the driver’s seat — with confidence.