What is the purpose of a mature driver’s course?

What is the purpose of a mature driver’s course?
The AARP are strong advocates that seniors who drive take part in a mature driver safety course to learn how to drive age appropriate. But why is it important? Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver’s licenses, but even the most experienced benefit from brushing up on their driving skills.

By taking one of DefensiveDriving.com’s mature driver safety courses you can expect to learn current rules of the road,defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment. You’ll learn adjustments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time.

Still thinking you are an okay driver and you don’t need help? Here’s a questionnaire to help determine if it’s time to limit driving or to stop driving altogether:

1. Almost crashing, with frequent “close calls”
2. Finding dents and scrapes on the car, on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs or the like.
3. Getting lost, especially in familiar locations
4. Having trouble seeing or following traffic signals, road signs, and pavement markings
5. Responding more slowly to unexpected situations, or having trouble moving your foot from the gas to the brake pedal;confusing the two pedals
6. Misjudging gaps in traffic at intersections and on highway entrance and exit ramps
7. Experiencing road rage or having other drivers frequently honk at you
8. Easily becoming distracted or having difficulty concentrating while driving
9. Having a hard time turning around to check over your shoulder while backing up or changing lanes
10. .Receiving traffic tickets or “warnings” from traffic or law enforcement officers in the last year or two

If you notice one or more of these cautionary signs in yourself or a loved one who is driving, you might want to register him or her for one of our online driver safety courses. As a bonus, residents of Tennessee and New Jersey can take one of our state approved mature defensive driving course and receive discounts on their insurance.