Brush Up on Driver Safety Skills With AARP Courses

As we head into the often- treacherous Minnesota winter, take steps now to stay safe on the roads with AARP Driver Safety.

The program aims to reduce accidents, save lives and create peace of mind for older motorists and their families. Its eight-hour AARP Smart Driver online course could make you eligible for an insurance discount. Topics include reducing distractions and compensating for age-related physical changes. The cost is $21.95 for AARP members and $27.95 for others.

Free opportunities include:

• Smart DriverTEK workshops, which instruct participants on the latest vehicle safety technologies, such as blind-spot monitors and drowsy-driver alerts. Choose from live virtual or self-paced online modules.

• CarFit, a live virtual workshop covering how to adjust mirrors, seat positions and instruments for optimal comfort and safety.

• Seminars that offer practical tips on how to know when to limit or stop driving, ways to broach this sensitive topic with loved ones and explorations of other modes of transportation. Choose a live virtual seminar or an online on-demand workshop.

To register for these offerings or to learn about becoming a volunteer AARP Driver Safety instructor, go to aarp.org/drive.

Mary Van Beusekom is a writer living in Excelsior.