Road Safety for Seniors is a seminar or webinar that I created to present as part of Vancouver Island University's Elder College program in the early 2000s. It has evolved from a single three hour presentation to an eight hour presentation held in two hour sessions over a period of four weeks.
Where to Participate
Today I present it in person as a volunteer through the Mid Island Elder College in Parksville or Nanaimo and via Zoom through the Society for Learning in Retirement in Kelowna.
Seminar Content
The seminar currently consists of the following modules:
- Are You Smarter Than a New Driver?
- How Aging Affects Driving
- Driver Re-Examinations
- Retiring From Driving
- Breakdown Safety
- Night Driving
- Freeway Driving
- Road Sign Recognition
- Seatbelts and Air Bags
- Sharing the Road with Heavy Vehicles
- Turning at Intersections
- Impaired Driving
- Vehicle Safety Systems
- Protecting Your Interests After a Collision
- Driver Telematics
- Distracted Driving
- Sharing the Road with Cyclists
- Defensive Driving
I try to refine these based on the conversations that occur in class or when new information becomes available. I am also working on new modules so this list will change over time.
How the Seminar Works
Typically I send a PDF of the material for each session to the participants a few days before it is scheduled. This allows them to prepare any comments or questions in advance and reduces the amount of time spent note taking during the session. Following each session extra related materials are shared via e-mail in case someone is interested in learning more.