NJDOT announces partnership with AARP to offer driver safety classes
to seniors
Driver education, Lower insurance rates for seniors
(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation will partner with
AARP, the nation's foremost organization dedicated to addressing
the needs of persons 50 and over, to provide driver safety instruction,
announced NJDOT Commissioner Jack Lettiere. The Driver
Safety program is the nation's first and largest classroom driver
improvement course designed especially for motorists age 50 and
older.
"Safety is
Governor McGreevey's top priority," said Commissioner Lettiere.
"This driver safety course will allow seniors to stay active and
independent. It is wise for all New Jersey motorists, regardless
of their age, to take some form of continuing driver education
and training to ensure a safe ride."
Classes are
open to all motorists age 50 and over at the New Jersey Department
of Transportation headquarters at 1035 Parkway Avenue in Ewing
Township. Two separate sessions will be conducted on June
15 th and 17th and June 22nd and 24th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Membership in AARP is not required, but students must pre-register.
Cost is $10 payable to AARP.
Upon completion
of the course, students receive a Certificate of Completion entitling
them to a 5% discount on automobile insurance for three years.
To remain eligible for this discount, students must repeat
the course every three years. Also, two points will be
deducted from their Motor Vehicle record, if applicable.
"This is a
common-sense partnership that will save lives and also save money
by helping will also help drivers 50 and over save money on their
auto insurance," said Lettiere.
The course
will provide practical techniques to compensate for changes associated
with aging as part of a thorough review of the 'rules of the road',
with an emphasis on defensive driving practices. The eight-hour
course will be taught in two four-hour sessions.
There are no tests.
Since the
program's inception in 1979, over 8 million people have completed
the course. In the last 3 years, over 2 million people have participated
in over 100,000 classes. That represents about 3 percent of all
eligible drivers age 50 or over.
For more
course information contact Nancy Ciaruffoli at 609-530-6456 at
the New Jersey Department of Transportation or visit the AARP
website: www.aarp.org/drive
.
