Smart Drivers Stay In Their Lanes

Maybe I did it for the free shirt and name tag. It wasn’t for the pay, which is just a small stipend. But I am now officially an AARP Smart Driver instructor.

After attending the course a number of times, I figured I could teach it. I’ve been a teacher, my dad was a driver ed instructor, and I’m a pretty good driver. OK, two out of three ain’t bad.

This isn’t meant to be a promo for the course although it might sound like one. The course reminds drivers 55 and older of things to be aware of regarding driving as they age. But students aren’t there for driving lessons any more than they are for the coffee and cookies. The real reason the classes are almost always full is because, by Minnesota law, attending the course gets you a 10% discount on your car insurance. The discount availability and amount varies by state.

The first course is two four-hour sessions. To continue the discount, a four-hour refresher course must be attended every three years. There is a charge for the course. There is an online version of the course but the classroom version is required for the insurance discount. In Red Wing, the courses are offered through Red Wing Community Education. 

While the course focuses on driving safely as we age, we also discuss some of the issues with driving in the Red Wing area. That alone could be a separate course. Maybe something like “The Streets of Red Wing: A Surviver’s Guide.” It would need to be updated often. 

The course allows me to remind students that the center two-way left turn lane on Main Street is not a merge lane. We also talk about negotiating roundabouts now that we have two of them, and the reduced conflict intersections that now appear on Highway 52. I’m still researching how to explain proper use of the crossover on Highway 61 by McDonald’s, especially when busy. I tell students to try to learn at least one new thing in the class and to notice the infractions by other drivers on the way home.

It’s good to talk about these things, even though the course can’t cover everything. So, how do you keep up with new laws? The best reference is the Minnesota Driver’s Manual, which most of us haven’t looked at since we were 16. It’s available online and can be helpful in settling arguments with your spouse. If you need more detail, read the state driving statutes.

As logical as it may seem, it would be entirely impractical to require everyone to take a written and driving test every time you renew your license. Maybe all cars should come with those gadgets that monitor your driving, shaming you into better driving habits. I’m not a model driver. I’ve performed many less-than-stellar driving maneuvers over the years. I can say that I am researching the driver’s manual quite often now that I’m teaching the course.

There are a lot of rules to remember. I’m not talking just about the hands-free law that was shoved in our faces so we’d remember. Apparently a lot of people missed that memo. How about the rule requiring that headlights be on whenever it is raining (or snowing or sleeting, etc.)? You don’t need to signal left when in a roundabout (everyone is going left) but use your right signal as you approach your exit.

Traffic is faster today. Speed limits seem like just a suggestion. You might even be a hazard if you stay at the posted speed. Many drivers have never heard of turn signals. A large share of accidents by older drivers involve failure to yield the right-of-way and merging.

New warning systems have improved safety but they require drivers to learn what they are and how they work. Some drivers don’t even know they exist or they believe they’re too complicated to learn. This includes things like a backup camera, blind spot detection, lane departure warning/lane keep, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. These and other technology features are discussed in the free AARP Smart Driver Tek course, also offered through community education.  

There are numerous other features you may need to learn, including Bluetooth setup for your hands-free phone, voice-activated controls, emergency communication systems and what all those buttons on the steering wheel are for. Cars are more complicated than just setting your clock twice a year. If you can’t figure them out, have your grandchildren show you.

It might get better, though. Self-driving electric cars are just around the corner. These cars of tomorrow will get continuous updates on traffic, weather, road construction and more. By then the Safe Driver course may become the Safe Passenger course, focusing on how to safely relax in your seat and how to program it to drive to specific locations. There will be no need for drivers or even passengers anymore. You’ll talk to your car as you do to Siri or Alexa today. It will recognize only your voice and those you authorize, and will respond to the name you gave it.

“Hey, Bertha! Take me to the Y and then pick up my grocery order while I work out.”