Even experienced drivers could use refresher course

Lots of new gadgets come with those shiny new cars that are unveiled every year. And that necessitates new understanding for motorists and new driving habits, especially in cars with push-button starters. Then there's a whole new compendium of audio devices, the new locking contraptions, and screens on the dashboard that warn of any object behind you or along the sides. Some even have new noise alerts to caution you against backing into potential danger.

And who would have believed the day would come when your car requires no keys at all? Sounds great, seems great, but maybe a bit confusing for some folks, or maybe for a lot more than some folks. That's why new car dealers now employ specially-trained "customer relations" managers or technicians — call them whatever you like. It could take a couple of hours — or even more than one trip back to the dealership — to fully comprehend how you're supposed to use all of that new-fangled stuff.

But then it came to you like a flash from outer space: You're not driving a car anymore — you're driving a computer, a computer on four wheels.

Of course, that doesn't begin to take into account the fast-changing character of Summerlin and indeed, all of Las Vegas. It seems like new neighborhoods spring up almost overnight, bringing with them new roads. And that means new left-turn lanes, lanes for cyclists, new third lanes from which to make turns, all requiring sudden moves from one lane to another on roads built for increased volumes of traffic.

Where am I going with all of this? Well, if you haven't figured it out by now, the real subject is driver safety. And if you're telling yourself that this doesn't apply to you — that, after all, you're a good driver, been sitting behind the wheel for all those years — then the answer is, "Wrong!" You are just the person who best qualifies for the refresher course on driver safety that has long been made available through AARP.

It's great to be able to call yourself an experienced driver. But it's not until you sit in on the course that you come to the realization that with new cars, new technology under those hoods, new roads, new neighborhoods and the like, older drivers can well afford to take the time to sit in on a class for a few hours to get a better grasp of safety tips and strategies when driving in today's world.

Moreover, the benefits may outweigh any pooh-poohing of such an idea in still another respect. It could save you some money in your auto insurance premiums. AARP's driver refresher course can earn you an annual reduction in those premiums, a discount that varies with most insurance companies.

And those savings in your insurance premiums for the next three years could add up, in some cases to hundreds of dollars. The reason for such an incentive makes good business sense. It behooves auto insurers to offer a discount in coverage to those drivers who take the time to improve their road safety skills, irrespective of how many years they've been driving. After all, AARP has been offering the course for more than 30 years, and millions of drivers have benefited from it.

The cost of the course is $15 for AARP members. But you need not be a member of AARP to take the course, which is $20 for nonmembers.

Referred to formally as the AARP Smart Driver course, the Driver Safety Book that's distributed with the course is constantly upgraded to conform to ever-changing driving laws in our society, together with the latest in car safety technology and updates on rules of the road. The nearly 7,000 volunteers who instruct the course are well-versed men and women who take their task seriously.

There are numerous facilities in and around Summerlin where the course is given on a regular basis, often within a single day each week. You can take the course in Sun City Summerlin, at the Desert Vista Community Center, 10360 Sun City Blvd., or at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive. Another place is at AAA, 10860 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 130. Or, you can call AARP at 877-846-3299 for more information.

— Herb Jaffe was an op-ed columnist and investigative reporter for most of his 39 years at the Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. His most recent novel, "Double Play," is now available. Contact him at hjaffe@cox.net.