Improve Your Driving Skills

Jim Clemmons, 72, is the volunteer director for AARP's South Central region. He's been a safe-driving instructor for 10 years, first in Washington state and now in Battlefield, near Springfield.

Left turns present one of the biggest challenges for older drivers, he said. Two of the most common — and dangerous — mistakes are pulling out in front of someone coming the other way and turning into the wrong lane.

"Anytime you're in a right-of-way situation, potentially, as you age, you've got a problem," he said. Instead of making dangerous left turns, class participants are advised to make three right turns when possible.

As people age, their reaction time is slower. "So if you go to hit the brakes, you've traveled another 20 to 30 feet compared to a younger person," Clemmons said. "You need to learn how to compensate for that by better spacing between you and the car in front of you."

And, like everyone else, older drivers also need to remember to look over their shoulders when changing lanes to compensate for the blind spot on all vehicles. "Seniors forget, or their neck may be sore, so they don't turn their head," Clemmons said. "They rely on mirrors too much."

Volunteer teachers needed

Knowing when it's time to stop driving is another topic addressed in the class.

"It is a very touchy subject," said Denny Staub, 72, who teaches a driver safety class in St. Louis. Frequent horn blowing by other drivers, unexplained scratches or dents in the car or multiple traffic tickets are among the signs it might be time to hang up the car keys for good. "We encourage other family members to ride with them," so that relatives can assess their skills, Staub said.

AARP Missouri is always looking for potential teachers, who are trained and certified before they can teach; and for groups willing to host classes at their facilities. If you are interested in teaching, or your facility is interested in hosting the course, call 636-677-0801.

Staub, a former high school driving instructor and football coach, is in his 11th year as a teacher. He finds it very satisfying.

"You always walk away thinking, 'I helped somebody,' " he said.