The Bellwood-Antis Council of Churches is sponsoring the AARP Driver Safety Program, a refresher course for drivers ages 50 and older, on November 6 and 7 at the Bellwood-Antis Public Library from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Both classes must be completed consecutively, and students who are 55 years or older who complete the two-day course are eligible for a mandatory five percent discount on their auto insurance for a three-year period. If there are two or more individuals age 55 years or older on an automobile policy, all must take the course to be eligible for the discount.
AARP developed the eight-hour classroom refresher course to help older drivers improve their driving skills and prevent crashes. The course covers age-related physical changes in perception and reaction time, rules of the road, changes in state law, and local driving problems, among other topics.
According to Larry Hainley, AARP volunteer driver safety class instructor, there are no tests for the course. There are self-help quizzes that are done during the course and detailed registration cards need to be completed for the instructor to prepare certificates.
“The AARP driver program is a good one that gives a lot of tips to help seniors prolong their driving and gives them a discount on their insurance,” added Hainley.
A $10 registration fee is required to cover student materials and handouts. Checks and money orders should be made payable to AARP. All participants must be pre-registered and prepaid to attend the course. AARP membership is not required.
Class size is limited, so early registration and payment is encouraged to reserve a seat.
For more information or to register for the refresher course to be held at the Bellwood-Antis Public Library, contact Mary Ann Edmiston at 742-7965.
For those interested in the driver refresher course but who cannot make it November 6 and 7, there are other courses scheduled throughout the area for November and December.
Altoona Hospital Priority Care is sponsoring two refresher courses, November 11 and 12 and December 9 and 10.
Contact Dana Shade at 949-3123 if interested. Also, Epworth Manor in Tyrone is sponsoring a refresher course on December 16 and 17. Contact Melissa Harpster at 684-0320 if interested.
Maureen Adams, Blair Senior Services volunteer coordinator, is also on hand to assist interested individuals to locate scheduled driver refresher courses throughout Blair County. If interested, contact Adams at 946-1235, extension 242.
