FAIR PARK: Fair Park Center hosts AARP Driver Safety Program

By Donna Rule / Chronicle contributor

Starting in March and continuing throughout the year, Fair Park will be hosting the “AARP Driver Safety Program,” which helps ensure that drivers aged 50 and older continue to stay safe behind the wheel. The program accomplishes this by updating its courses each year to reflect the most current driving information and safety tips available and also offers car insurance savings upon successful completion of the course.

Over the past 30 years, the AARP Driver Safety Program has provided instruction to more than ten million participants seeking to refresh their driving skills. The course is designed to educate participants about how best to reduce traffic violations, crashes, and chances for injuries; update drivers’ knowledge about relevant laws; and provide safe driving strategies to compensate for age-related changes that affect one’s driving ability. The eight-hour course, taught in two four-hour sessions, also stresses the importance of periodically monitoring one’s own and others’ driving skills and capabilities.

Some of the topics students can expect to learn about involve the current rules of the road, how to operate their vehicles more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. Students will also learn about:

• maintaining proper following distance at all times,

• the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections,

• the effects of medications on driving,

• minimizing the effect of dangerous blind spots,

• limiting driver distractions such as eating, smoking and cell phone use,

• properly using safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes,

• maintaining physical flexibility,

• continuing to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

“This course offers more information about various safe driving strategies, including how to handle distractions, aggressive drivers, and driving with trucks,” says Bill Bruce, Crossville’s local AARP driver safety coordinator. “The course also includes expanded and improved video presentations on a number of important driving topics.”

For more information on the AARP Driver Safety Program and how it can help you, contact Fair Park Senior Center at 484-7416 for details.

To keep informed about Fair Park’s activities and to learn about its corporate partnerships, you can visit the center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also visit the center’s Web site at www.fairparkseniorcenter.org to keep up-to-date on the latest programs and activities that are being offered as well as online versions of the center’s monthly newsletter “Newsline.” Take advantage of the resources that Fair Park offers — get involved, and become part of the fun!

NOTE: Basic I and II Computer Classes are ongoing — call for more information and to sign up for classes.

Wednesday, Feb. 24

• 9 a.m. — AARP Tax Aide continues. Call for appointment.

•10 a.m. — Beginning electric guitar with Tom Fincher.

•11 a.m. — Intermediate electric guitar with Tom Fincher.

•1 p.m. — Guitar forum.

•1 p.m. — Cribbage with Andy Bertolino.

•1 p.m. — UT Extension Arthritis Exercise Program — on hiatus until May.

•2 p.m. — Cardio Blast! — On hiatus until May.

•2:30 p.m. — Beginning guitar with Dan Lockard.

Thursday, Feb. 25

•9 a.m. — AARP Tax Aide continues. Call for appointment.

•9 a.m. — SilverSneakers® Muscular Strength & Range of Movement.

•9 a.m. — Van trip to Knoxville.

•10 a.m. — Table tennis.

•12:30 p.m. — Bridge Bunch.

•12:30 p.m. — Creative Quilters.

•1 p.m. — Bass guitar class — open to all.

•1 p.m. — Euchre with Tommy Cole.

•2 p.m. — Senior chess club — open play, everyone welcome.

•4 p.m. — Healthy Eating Class — $10 per person per class. Call to reserve your spot.

•6:30 p.m. — Line dancing.

•6:30 p.m. — ER4YT with Larry Nesbit.

Friday, Feb. 26

•10 a.m. — Beginning Bridge with M. Bilodeau.

•10:30 a.m. — CMC Bingo.

•12:30 p.m. — Bridge with M. Bilodeau.

Monday, March 1

•8 a.m. — Table tennis.

•9 a.m. — Veggie bingo.

•11 a.m. — Line dancing.

•12:30 p.m. — Pinochle.

•12:30 p.m. — Bridge Bunch.

•1 p.m. — Painting with the Masters — Tom Eckert seminar. Call for availability.

•1 p.m. — Cribbage with Andy Bertolino — everyone welcome.

•6:30 p.m. — ER4YT with Larry Nesbit.

Tuesday, March 2

•9 a.m. — Cardio Blast — $1 per class; everyone welcome.

•10 a.m. — ER4YT with Larry Nesbit.

•10 a.m. — Advanced Tai Chi with Diane Parvin.

•11 a.m. — Beginner Tai Chi.

•12:30 p.m. — Pool League continues.

•1 p.m. — SilverSneakers® Muscular Strength & Range of Movement.

•2 p.m. — Beginning yoga with G. King.

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