AARP Driving Safety Class - Health Department
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Both of the Health Educators in Health Promotion/Education are AARP-trained volunteers and co-teach the Driver Safety Class. We conduct classes three to four times a year. The AARP Driver Safety Course is a refresher course for drivers 50 years old and older and designed to keep older drivers on the road longer and safer. The course is taught at various locations in Richland County. The two day class is four hours each day and cost is $10 to pay for the workbook. Organizations wishing to host the course should call Reed Richmond at 419-774-4726.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is designed to help you:
• Tune up your driving skills and update your knowledge of the rules of the road.
• Learn about normal age-related physical changes, and how to adjust your driving to allow for these changes.
• Reduce your traffic violations, crashes, and chances for injuries.
• Drive more safely.
• Get an insurance discount. Auto insurance companies in most states provide a multiyear discount to AARP graduates!
• AARP members receive discounts on the AARP Motoring Plan from GE Motor Club.

What Will I Learn by Taking the Course?
You can expect to learn about current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. You will learn about:
• maintaining proper following distance at all times,
• the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections,
• the effects of medications on driving,
• minimizing the effect of dangerous blind spots,
• limiting driver distractions such as eating, smoking and cell phone use,
• properly using safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes,
• maintaining physical flexibility,
• continuing to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.
After completing the course, you'll develop a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how you can avoid potential collisions and injuries to yourself and others. Interested? Learn more about the course structure.

What Else Do I Need to Know and How Do I Sign Up?
Though geared for drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to people of any age.
AARP membership is not required to take the course.
There is no final test to pass.
Call 419-774-4544 to find out when the next available class is (or see schedule classes above).

What Course Graduates Are Saying About AARP Driver Safety Program
"I have driven over three million miles as a commercial driver. Even with that record behind me, I have to keep an open mind and learn new things. AARP's Driver Safety Program taught me a lot about normal age-related changes that I didn't realize. I know I'm a better driver for it." Graduate, AARP Driver Safety Program, Illinois.

AARP Driver Safety Link:
http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/