For a third consecutive year, Yorkton seniors will have an opportunity to take the popular 55-Alive Mature Driver Safety Course.
The class, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Safety Council (SSC) is scheduled for October 30 at the Gallagher Centre. It is free of charge and open to all. There are no exams and it does not affect participants' driver's licences.
In 2012 and 2013 the class was brought to Yorkton by the New Horizons Senior Centre. Last year it attracted 46 participants, about double the first year numbers.
Vi Stefanuk, New Horizons secretary said the course has been very well received.
"It's a very very good reminder for everybody and about things we hadn't even realized were happening to us, so we'll be more alert," she said.
Lee Carlson, who taught the two previous classes explained the biggest challenge for older drivers.
"Vision is the key thing," he said. "As we age our vision changes and older drivers tend to narrow and lower the scope of their vision. We try to teach them to be aware of that and how to compensate for it."
It is also simply a good refresher, he said.
"Quite often we take for granted that maybe we still know the information we have and we haven't taken the time to update. This gives them the opportunity to just refresh their skills, gives them a chance to identify what they're doing right, but maybe also some of the things they're not doing right, that they need to correct."
The class covers hazardous driving situations, review of safety devices, traffic guidance, review of updated traffic regulations, how to control a skid, medication awareness and effective use of your eyes.
And although it is specifically geared to the over-50 crowd, Carlson suggested it could be valuable for drivers of all ages because regulations and recommended techniques change over time. Just as one example, he noted that the old 10 o-clock, two o-clock guideline for hand position on the steering wheel has now become nine o-clock, three o-clock. Since airbags have become standard equipment on almost all vehicles, many injuries and even some deaths have been attributed to airbags smashing hands improperly positioned on the wheel into drivers' faces.
To register for the course contact Tammy at 306-757-3197 or [email protected].
