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THE AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM

(Text and Photos by Pete Porter)

The AARP Driver Safety Program is one of the newest staions to be aligned with RSVP. The local program is organized by Dennis King, and I was able to find out all about it when I visited him.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is primarily meant for senior drivers aged 50 or older. Senior drivers completing the course are able to obtain a discount on their driving insurance when they present their completion certificate to their insurance agent. This course is definitely worth taking as many accidents tend to involve this section of the population. The course consists of either two four hour sessions or one eight hour session and is recomended as a good refresher course that covers many things that tend to be forgotten over time. Video and classroom participation are used during these sessions.

Dennis introduced me to Pablo Diaz, who is one of the course instructors. Pablo informed me that the coursework takes place at one of the several course sponsor sites around the South Bay. They are held once or twice a month at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and locations in Redondo Beach, Manhatten Beach, Hawthorne and Hermosa Beach. Other sponsors include the Torrance YMCA and the Gardena Seniors Center. Classes generally include between twelve and twenty-seven students, although Dennis said it usually averages out to around twenty. Certificates are handed out at the conclusion of the session, The originals are kept by the participants and are used to present to their insurance agents so that they can obtain the policy discounts. Carbon copies of the certificates are sent to the main Long Beach AARP office. Copies are then sent to Washington DC and AARP is credited with Federal Funding depending on whether the participant was an AARP member. Then the informatioon is filed with the local DMV.
Dennis King
and Pablo Diaz

The course book covers a wide range of relevant material, As well as driver safety tips and basic Highway Code information, participants learn about their own vehicles, blind spot awareness, and the importance of scanning. One thing that Pablo stressed was what he called the three second rule. This is where you note when a preceding vehicle has passed a certain location. He said that if your vehicle passes the same location in less than three seconds, then you are definitely driving too close to the vehicle in front of you. This works whether you are travelling at thirty or sixty miles per hour. The program is always on the lookout for more classwork instructors so, if you are interested, please contact the District Coordinator, Dennis King, at (310) 326-4883. Dennis told me that there are currently only six instructors in the program but there is certainly room for more. Applicants are sent on a training course by AARP and then Dennis sits in with them until they feel comfortable enough to give the presentation.

Pablo informed me that he was a State Farm Insurance agent for thirty seven years, before retiring and volunteering as an instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program. He has also been a soccer referee for the past twenty five years and referees AYSO matches as well as many High School games. Dennis took a mandatory retirement from the Los Angeles County Fire Fighter Station in Lomita when he reached the age of sixty. He said that he wanted to give something back to the community that had given so much to the Fire Fighters.

Dennis introduced me to Pablo Diaz, who is one of the course instructors. Pablo informed me that the coursework takes place at one of the several course sponsor sites around the South Bay. They are held once or twice a month at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and locations in Redondo Beach, Manhatten Beach, Hawthorne and Hermosa Beach. Other sponsors include the Torrance YMCA and the Gardena Seniors Center. Classes generally include between twelve and twenty-seven students, although Dennis said it usually averages out to around twenty. Certificates are handed out at the conclusion of the session, The originals are kept by the participants and are used to present to their insurance agents so that they can obtain the policy discounts. Carbon copies of the certificates are sent to the main Long Beach AARP office. Copies are then sent to Washington DC and AARP is credited with Federal Funding depending on whether the participant was an AARP member. Then the informatioon is filed with the local DMV.	Dennis King and Pablo Diaz
The course book covers a wide range of relevant material, As well as driver safety tips and basic Highway Code information, participants learn about their own vehicles, blind spot awareness, and the importance of scanning. One thing that Pablo stressed was what he called the three second rule. This is where you note when a preceding vehicle has passed a certain location. He said that if your vehicle passes the same location in less than three seconds, then you are definitely driving too close to the vehicle in front of you. This works whether you are travelling at thirty or sixty miles per hour. The program is always on the lookout for more classwork instructors so, if you are interested, please contact the District Coordinator, Dennis King, at (310) 326-4883. Dennis told me that there are currently only six instructors in the program but there is certainly room for more. Applicants are sent on a training course by AARP and then Dennis sits in with them until they feel comfortable enough to give the presentation.
Pablo informed me that he was a State Farm Insurance agent for thirty seven years, before retiring and volunteering as an instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program. He has also been a soccer referee for the past twenty five years and referees AYSO matches as well as many High School games. Dennis took a mandatory retirement from the Los Angeles County Fire Fighter Station in Lomita when he reached the age of sixty. He said that he wanted to give something back to the community that had given so much to the Fire Fighters.