Keep the Keys: Why Older Drivers Are Choosing to Brush Up — and Why You Should Too
For many older adults, driving isn't just convenient — it's foundational. It's how you get to your doctor, your senior center, your grandchildren's school play. It's the quiet freedom of going where you want, when you want, without asking anyone for a ride. Maintaining that independence is one of the most important things in a person's life as they grow older.
That's why we're excited to bring the AARP Smart Driver course to Red Mountain Senior Center on Tuesday, July 28, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This nationally recognized, award-winning program has helped more than 20 million people across the country drive more safely and confidently — and now it's coming to your neighborhood.
The Road Has Changed. The Course Keeps You Current.
First launched in 1979 under the name "55 Alive," the AARP Driver Safety program has spent more than four decades helping older Americans stay independent, safe, and confident behind the wheel. The flagship AARP Smart Driver course is now the largest classroom driver safety program in the country designed specifically for drivers 50 and older.
But this isn't a course built on outdated assumptions. Today's roads present challenges that simply didn't exist a generation ago — more distracted drivers, faster traffic, complex new intersections, and vehicles packed with safety technology that most drivers have never fully learned to use. The Smart Driver course is built around all of it.
The curriculum is grounded in the real, everyday experience of older drivers: the normal changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time that come with age, and the practical strategies for adjusting to those changes without giving up the wheel.
Topics covered include:
- Maintaining proper following distance and minimizing dangerous blind spots
- Limiting distractions — including cell phone use — while driving
- Properly using safety belts, air bags, and modern vehicle safety features
- Understanding how medications can affect driving ability
- Maintaining physical flexibility for safe driving
- Monitoring your own driving skills and capabilities over time
- Current rules of the road and how to navigate today's more complex driving environment
There are no tests. No driving evaluations. Just four focused hours with a trained volunteer instructor — in this case, Barbara Skinner, a certified AARP trainer — covering the information that matters most for drivers who want to stay safe for years to come.
You May Pay Less for Car Insurance
Here's a practical reason to sign up before the end of the month: completing the AARP Smart Driver course may qualify you for a discount on your auto insurance premiums.
In most states, legislation requires automobile insurance companies to offer premium discounts to drivers who complete a state-approved driver improvement course like the AARP Smart Driver program. In states where discounts aren't mandated, many insurance companies offer them voluntarily. Participants who complete the course receive a certificate that can be submitted to their insurer.
Discounts vary by company and state, so it's worth a quick call to your insurance agent before July 28 to ask whether completion of this course qualifies you for a reduced rate. For many participants, the savings add up quickly — easily offsetting the cost of the course within the first few months.
About the AARP Smart Driver Program
Every participant receives a comprehensive course guidebook — included in the registration fee — covering rules of the road, safety strategies for older drivers, and a workshop with specific actions to take after the course.
Whether you've had a recent close call, want to update your knowledge after years away from a formal driving course, or simply want the peace of mind that comes with a professional refresher, the Smart Driver course is designed for you.
Course Details
Date: Tuesday, July 28
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Red Mountain Senior Center
Cost:
- $20 — AARP Members
- $25 — Non-AARP Members
The fee covers all course materials, including your participant guidebook and completion certificate. AARP membership is not required to attend.
About Red Mountain Senior Center
Red Mountain Senior Center is one of Aster's senior centers serving the East Valley. Aster's centers are social hubs — places where older adults gather for daily nutritionally balanced lunches, live music, movies, art and exercise classes, health and wellness programs, and more. The AARP Smart Driver course is exactly the kind of education and wellness programming that reflects Aster's mission: helping older adults and their families navigate aging with independence and dignity.
Aster Aging has been serving the local community since 1979.
How to Register
Space is limited and courses like this fill up. To reserve your spot, contact AARP Trainer Barbara Skinner directly:
- barbaraaarp@gmail.com
- 480-383-9187
Don't wait — reach out today to secure your place in the July 28 class at Red Mountain Senior Center. Four hours could make a real difference in how confidently and safely you drive for years to come.
For more information about programs and events at Aster's senior centers, visit asteraz.org.
