A Driver Safety Class Can Mean a Discount on Your Auto Insurance

Mary Jean Hebenstreit, 69, got a harsh reminder to sharpen her driving skills when the police pulled her over last year for speeding. "It was the first time I've ever been stopped."

The ticket rattled Hebenstreit, of Gillespie, and persuaded her to enroll in the AARP Driver Safety Program, a two-day refresher course for older drivers.

And there was a bonus.

Illinois residents 55 and older who complete a driver safety class are eligible for insurance discounts of about $20 to $150 a year, depending on the policy and their driving record, said Harold Sterling, one of two volunteer Midwest regional coordinators of the AARP Driver Safety Program. The class must be retaken every three years to keep the discount. He advised motorists to ask their insurance companies for details.

"One of the best ways for seniors to maintain mobility and independence is through driver safety programs," said Sterling, 69, of Schaumburg.

AARP's class covers the latest approaches to safe driving, traffic strategies and the touchy question of when to stop driving.

For many older people, "to stay independent means continuing to drive," said Merri Dee, state president of AARP Illinois. "It is increasingly important that older drivers have the skills they need to remain safe on the roads."

About 3.5 million Illinois drivers are over age 50, and older drivers face a number of challenges.

Some rules of the road have changed since they first learned to drive. For example, a new state law requires a driver transporting a disabled person to secure the passenger in a seat belt. Also, today's cars have new features, such as lane departure warning systems, that didn't exist when older drivers got their first vehicles.

Also, age-related changes in a driver's vision, hearing and reaction time require strategies to compensate.

Cathi Watson, 77, and her husband, Bill, 83, enrolled in the class even though they were both experienced drivers. The Schaumburg residents were surprised at how much they had forgotten since first learning to drive.

After the class, Cathi Watson shared her favorite tip: Avoid left turns against traffic. Sometimes it's better to drive a few more blocks and make several right turns instead, she said. "That could prevent an accident."