By Catherine Ellerton

Moapa Valley Progress

AARP Safe Driving Instructor, Vernon Petry.

Although the AARP Driver Safety Program is designed for drivers age 50 and over, the lessons taught are basic driving skills all should know. Vernon Petry, an AARP certified instructor, recently taught this 4 hour refresher course at the Overton Senior Center.

This course touched basics on defensive driving techniques, new traffic laws and safety concerns.

Some new traffic laws that were discussed were: cars must leave 3 feet of room when passing bicyclists. Also drivers can be ticketed if they pull off the road on the right-of-way to answer their cell phone – they must unbuckle their seat belt and step outside the car.

Some basic safety steps are: to check out special tinted glasses if lights bother you; expect something to happen – drive defensively; be constantly alert – use the scanning method of looking in every mirror; and make sure you are seated comfortably before you start driving. Further discussion was held concerning the popularity and driving concerns of the new round-abouts.

Larry Goettsche, the AARP Driver Safety Trainer from this area, was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat offering support for this class. He did point out that this course is supported by many organizations. Recently Toyota awarded a grant to help publicize and to spread the word.

Petry closed by reminding those in attendance, “Safety is a standard, not an option.”