The St. Johns County Council on Aging is offering residents an AARP smart driver course May 15 and 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at River House located at 179 Marine Street in St. Augustine.
It is not like other driving tests that one would take when first learning to drive because it is not teaching the basics but is instead intended to further enhance a driver’s knowledge of road safety and what to do when faced with certain situations.
The class will feature evidence-based safe driving strategies that are always adapting and important to keep up with.
Some traffic laws have been in place and are the standard, such as red means “stop” and green means “go.”
However, there are certain laws that are always being tweaked and may even vary depending on the state one is in.
That is what makes the class a valuable tool that can be used by any driver of any age really, but it can be especially helpful with so many people moving into St. Johns County from other states where they may have become accustomed to those rules but are now having to adjust to Florida’s.
While new traffic laws and the rules of the road will be a major part of the class, it will also focus on the importance of knowing how to handle an aggressive driver situation and the best ways to approach it if confronted with one.
The class will consist of two days and a person must attend both classes in order to get credit for completion of the course.
Registration is required to take part and space is limited with only 50 spots available for the class.
The cost for the two-day class is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members, while there is no fee associated for the class for those with United Healthcare insurance.
Auto insurance discounts may also apply depending on the insurance provider and a completion certificate following the course can be obtained for those looking to explore that option.
The course demonstrates no matter how experienced a driver is, it is never to late catchup on the rules and learn safe driving tips.
After all, being a safe driver is not just about keeping those in the car safe but also about keeping everyone around you safe, as it can does not just include the cars on sharing the road but the segments of the roadways where pedestrians are welcome to share the same road as well, whether that is walking, running or riding a bicycle.
To learn more about the program and the course being offered locally, residents can go to aarp.org/drive or can register by calling 904-209-3655 or by emailing tharris@stjohnscoa.com.
