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Advice & More December 2013

Senior Moments

Continuing to Drive: I Thrive with the AARP Online Driver Safety Course

By Edward A. Joseph

I am no computer maven (just ask my kids), but I had no problem navigating the program. In addition, I found the course interesting and highly effective in teaching driving strategies that can partially offset the normal decline of physical abilities as one ages.

I like saving money. So every three years I take the AARP classroom version of the safe driving course to obtain a ten percent discount on my auto insurance (it must be taken every three years to continue the discount).

The course, often updated and taught by AARP volunteers, is interesting and instructive. Each time I completed it, I walked out of the room knowing I was a better driver for the experience.

As the time approached to take the course again, I thought about doing the online version, but I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it as much, or learn as much, from an online course as opposed to actually being present in a classroom with an instructor. This year, however, a friend who usually takes the course with me could not make it, so I decided to give the online version a try.

I live in New York State, which accepts taking an online course for an insurance discount and for removing points for traffic violations. Some states do have restrictions for taking an online driver safety course, so check your states' regulations.

New York State requires that you complete the course within 30 days, but one of the great features of the online version is that the participant decides how long he or she wants to work on it any one time. If you become tired, you can save the part you have completed and can easily return to the point you left off when you are ready to continue.

I found the online driver safety course user friendly. I am no computer maven (just ask my kids), but I had no problem navigating the program. In addition, I found the course interesting and highly effective in teaching driving strategies that can partially offset the normal decline of physical abilities as one ages.

The course is a skillful blend of text (much of it read by a narrator), videos, instructive diagrams, and short quizzes (don't get nervous, the results are to help the participant become a better driver and are not used to determine if you pass the course or not). One feature of the videos that I particularly liked was that they often included real people – a senior driver, a traffic officer, a truck driver – sharing important safe-driving tips.

An eye-opening experience for me was an exercise to test peripheral vision, which for most seniors declines with age. I was a teacher for almost 30 years and I was confident that the "eyes in back of my head" skill had not declined. It startled me to learn that my peripheral vision tested below average. Translating this knowledge into action meant I had to turn my head and check the car's blind spots more often, as well as frequently using my side view mirrors.

With no offense to all the excellent AARP driving instructors I have had in the past, I found the online safety course an even more valuable and pleasant experience than being in a classroom because I could do it in smaller chunks; I could easily repeat a section if I wanted to; and I could complete it in the convenience of my home.

For more information, go to www.aarpdriversafety.org/.

 

Contact the author at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. /.

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