Driver Safety Tips From AARP: Wait A Second…Or Three

You’ve been driving for 30, 40, or 50 years. You should know how to do it by now, right?

What more can you learn? You’d be surprised. Do you know the three-second rule?

The three-second rule is usually the most widely acclaimed driving tip that students of all ages, especially those over age 62, learn in an AARP Driver Safety course. It may be the easiest rule to learn, too.

When driving in traffic, make note when the car directly in front of you passes a fixed point such as a sign, overpass, or any other marker that you can easily identify. When the car passes that point, begin to count one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, etc. If you reach the same marker in less than three seconds, you are driving too closely. You should drop back and check again until you are three or more seconds away.

The three-second rule works at any speed, on any kind of road or highway. And if the weather is bad, you should add a few seconds. For example, light rain makes the road a bit slippery, so drivers should allow four seconds. Icy conditions, snow, or fog may require four, five, or six seconds.

This tip and more are taught as part of the AARP Driver Safety Program. The course costs only $10 including all materials, it is taught only in the classroom, not in the car.

There is no exam and there are no reports sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Drivers age 62 and older are eligible for a minimum five percent discount on their auto liability insurance when they complete the course.

For a class nearby call toll free 888-227-7669 or check the AARP website www.aarp.org/drive for information on local courses.