Safety class aims to help older drivers

To teenagers and seniors alike, a driver's license represents freedom.

Helping elderly motorists safely maintain that freedom is the focus of a two-day AARP driver safety class that starts May 6 at the Havelock Senior Center.

"Most older drivers want to keep their independence, and by taking this class, we feel they will become better drivers," said instructor Charlie Peckham. "We all want our independence; we all want what cars have done for us in our lives - allow us the mobility we want."

The eight-hour class is planned from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 6 and May 8. The cost is $10, and advance registration at the senior center on Trader Avenue is required.

Peckham, a longtime instructor who now trains others to teach the class, will be joined by Trooper Ernie Coleman of the N.C. State Highway Patrol and Officer Scott Scipione of the Havelock Police Department.

Participants will learn how to compensate for the slower reaction times and changes to eyesight and hearing that come with old age and discuss some of the most prevalent problems for elderly drivers, Peckham explained.

"A lot of people in the class are appreciative because they do all learn something from each other," he said. "It's a shared experience. We try to get everybody to participate in it."

Failing to yield the right of way and making left turns onto a busy street or highway are two of the top problems many drivers face as they age.

"Left turns make for a difficulty because people have to judge how fast cars are coming in the opposite direction," Peckham said.

New traffic laws - including North Carolina's requirement for every passenger to wear a seatbelt - are discussed, as well as automotive technology that some drivers are still unfamiliar with.

"A lot of older drivers still don't know how to use anti-lock brakes properly," Peckham said. "The idea of pumping the pedal is still with us."

The class helps participants cope with aggressive drivers and learn how to avoid dangerous confrontations sparked by road rage.

Those who complete the two-day class receive a certificate from the AARP and may be eligible for a discount on their car insurance premiums. Peckham said 40 states require insurance companies to offer a discount for the class, but North Carolina isn't among them.

Drivers are also taught the importance of maintaining a safe and legal speed. Scipione said many elderly motorists in Havelock have been pulled over for driving too slowly.

"They're normally driving 10 to 15 mph under the posted speed limit," he said, "which certainly isn't a problem when it's pouring down rain or something, but when it's a bright, sunny day outside, that can be a problem."

Scipione said police officers have a form they can file with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles when they believe an elderly driver should be retested. Police avoid this option and use it only when necessary to ensure safety, he said.

To register for the class, bring $10 in cash or check to the senior center during its normal operating hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. For more information, call the AARP at 1-888-227-7669.

ROAD SAFETY

- Select a car you're comfortable with. Power seats are a must to ensure you can reach the pedals.

-  Avoid dark-colored vehicles. White is statistically the safest color

-  When possible, plan errands during off-peak times. Avoid busy roads during rush hour

- Drive in familiar areas as much as possible

-  When planning a trip to an unfamiliar location, such as a new doctor's office, plan a practice run the day before

-  Don't drive under the influence of certain prescription drugs, especially narcotic painkillers

-  Have your vision and hearing checked regularly

Source: Charlie Peckham