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Show New Utah - Thursday, July 24, 2003 - Page 9 55 Alive Driver safety program helps save lives By Cathy Allred Linda Ernest's first reaction, reac-tion, upon hearing about the 86-year-old driver who drove into the crowded Santa Monica farmers market mar-ket and killed 11 people, was of loss. "I just felt awful that he had not been to a driver's course," said Ernest who teaches the 55 Alive driver safety program. "There are things in there that would have helped." According to the Insurance Insur-ance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers over 60 years of age can be just as dangerous dan-gerous as a teenaged driver with more than threes times more vehicle-involved deaths than those with drivers aged 25 to 59. The 55 Alive program, sponsored by AARP, is the first and largest driver refresher course in the United States. It is designed for drivers age 50 and older and is intended to help older drivers improve their skills and become aware of weaknesses acquired through age. "There are things that are triggers that he would have recognized some prob nave recognized some prOD- every e, w o years m oruer neinemuer, yuu can ue American Fork Children's Choir expands ff innfi maris ssrli irnlisn rrsvrnmc if? yvuui ffiuaiu uuw ui i wii fJi wyiuiiio After a five-year absence choir. rilee Barratt at Merrilee Barratt will join choral and music education director Laura Dunn with an expanded music education educa-tion program to include all children ages 6 to 16 who "Love to Sing." The 2003-2004 season will include four levels of music education and choral performance classes, beginning begin-ning levels 1 and 2, intermediate inter-mediate choir and touring UVSC Ragan Theatre July 24-26, 28, 7:00 pm Utah LyacjOpera Society 4 r .A 1 (rfttw idea for tnj Ocusicn VrHi Pjrcfww of JDO, copy! ri ii ii ii y t- vi ...... I lfW lems," Ernest said. "I feel he probably didn't I don't know that." The program that Ernest teaches helps drivers adapt their driving habits to slower slow-er reflexes, hearing problems prob-lems and to increased traffic traf-fic and complex new driving situations like roundabouts. Sometimes, it helps them realize that it is time to find other means of transportation. transporta-tion. "The day I . took the course there was a fellow that decided to withdraw his license that day. Another Anoth-er lady taking my class decided that she shouldn't be driving anymore," Ernest said. "It's hard to give up any freedoms. I hope I will be able to do that when it's time." The Lehi resident has been teaching for 18 months and has just been made state assistant coordinator coordi-nator for the five county region including Millard, Juab, Utah, Carbon and Sevier. Taught entirely by volunteers, volun-teers, the eight-hour program pro-gram usually is run in two sessions of four hours each and $10 covers the costs and supplies. Ernest would like to see it everyone, not just the senior sen-ior citizens, take the class and get their vision checked every 2 to 3 years in order Registration for the "I Love to Sing: Music education educa-tion and choral program will be held Aug. 21 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the American Fork High School choral room. For information please call Lei a Bartholomew at 756-7200. There is still time to. audition for the touring choir. They may call Mer -or 863-8797 for tickets ith Copies Pew Om frse !Iooti 11 r to renew their license. "It raises awareness and jars complacency," she said. "I totally believe that there are 80-year-olds on the road that are as safe as a 30-year-old; there are also 30-year-olds not as safe as a 80-year-old. Ernest's last class was at the Lehi Senior Center on July 8. There were nine students. stu-dents. With them, she discussed dis-cussed safety choices, how to plan ahead and how to deal with certain hazardous scenarios. Her underlying sense of humor was always present. "What do you do when you miss the exit? Back up and pull over?" asked Ernest as her students laughed and answered, "No. Take the next exit." "Have a freeway plan of action," said Ernest. "Things that you want to make a mental note of so you can be prepared if that situation comes up." During discussion, Dick Thomsen frorr Salt Lake City asks, "I remember that in the past it was that the slower traffic stayed to the right except to pass. Is that still the law?" Ernest said yes and Thomsen's reply was "Boy, they sure don't do it that way." Remember, you can be rilee Barratt at 492-3699 for an audition. The American Fork Children's Chil-dren's Choir has recently performed at Disney World's MGM Studios, and EPCOT Center and will be touring to San Diego and the Heritage Children's Choir Festival in the spring. YOUR TheEpny Express Is Here! Subscribe today and save 75 OFF newsstand price! &sm BUBS M osoa mm Aug. 6, 7 Orem Friendship Ctr., 93 N. 400 East Aug. 14,16 ' Provo Eldred Ctr., 270 W. 500 North, 801-852-6620 Sept. 24, 26 Sandy Sr. Ctr., 9310 S. 1300 East, 801 561-3265 Oct. 8, 9 Orem Friendship Ctr., 93 N. 400 East, 801-229-7111 right, but don't be dead right," Ernest said. He and his wife, Connie Thomsen, are taking the class for the second time to renew their insurance discount. dis-count. "We knew we had to take it this year for our discount," dis-count," said Thomsen. "You can just call the senior citizen citi-zen center to see if they have it." They save $100 a year with the discount on their insurance and renew by taking the class once every three years. There is a possible 12 to Merrilee Barratt am sitiom or rum i i . t TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEWSPAPER THURSDAY, MAY 25. 2003 50 For only 500 a week you'll get the Pony Express -your best source of local news PEUS the Sunday Daily Herald for Utah County, state and national news! Limited Time Offer! 3 J Mi f I Photo by Cathy Allred Linda Ernest makes a final point at the AARP 55 Alive Driver Dri-ver Safety class at the Lehi Senior Center on July 8. Ernest believes the course saves lives. 15 percent discount depend- Ernest said. "I really believe ent on the insurance for those 55 or older. "Most drivers don't realize real-ize that they have gotten limitations, that they are slowing down, their eyesight eye-sight isn't as clear, their hearing isn't as clear," Family Council sets picnic The Utah County Family Council summer picnic and swimming party will be Thursday, July 3,1 at the Pleasant Grove City Pool, 570 E. 300 South. Children with special needs and their families are invited for an evening of fun and visiting. There will be a potluck Drw Safety Program that (this program) is going to save lives." The 55 Alive course schedule for the north Utah County area is available by calling 1-888-227-7669 or by visiting the Web site at www.aarp.org. dinner at 6:30 p.m. Meat will be provided; those attending should bring salads or desserts Swimming is from 8 to 9 p.m. The cost is $1.50 per person per-son or $7.50 per family. Anyone with questions should call Linda at 377-3862 377-3862 or Deana at 768-4661. CENTS |