Seniors on the team to keep highways safe

BY BRENT FOX

The Advertiser

NovaNewsNow.com

The rules and conditions have changed, but more mature motorists can take a refresher course to upgrade their driving skills and understand the many changes in road conditions and regulations.

John Christopher and Marti Valiquette of Apple Valley Driving Schools, Wolfville, spoke at the Kings Crime Prevention Association session in New Minas Tuesday, Sept. 25 on their 55-Alive driving course for more mature drivers.

The course helps mature drivers gain more confidence, improve awareness of traffic hazards, update understanding of traffic laws and technology, and identify and address bad driving habits.

Generally, it’s an education process, Christopher said. “It’s an education course,” he noted. “There’s no road testing.” As well, instruction and discussion are in a relaxed atmosphere. It doesn’t affect a person’s driving record and some people take the course every five years or so.

He said there’s no mandatory testing for seniors, though a medical professional can inform authorities if a person should have restrictions.

Christopher said, “it’s a great refresher on new vehicle technology, new rules of the road and new signage.”

Technology includes things such as airbags and smaller steering wheels. These things require a slight change in the old ‘10 and two’ hand positions on the wheel. Now drivers have to keep their hands in a position that gives the steering wheel air bag room to deploy.

Valiquette pointed out new rules that mature drivers may not have realized come into force include turning left on a red light if you’re coming off a one-way street onto another. However, drivers have to check for traffic and pedestrians before making that turn.

She noted that old ideas on letting a vehicle idle are now incorrect because it’s not better to let a car idle for up to 15 minutes instead of turning it off. “That’s a myth,” she said. “It gums up the engine. The engine isn’t running efficiently when idling” and it’s a waste of gas.

Valiquette said the course is six hours over two days and most of the students are seniors. The instructors are also mature motorists.

As the audience noted pet peeves, such as dangerous passing habits on the 100-series highways, Christopher said, “you only have the right-of-way if someone gives it to you. You have to be defensive in what you’re doing. Err on the side of caution.”

Valiquette said the key is safe movement through traffic. “You’re on the team to keep the highway safe.”