<p>The AARP Smart Driver Program is designed to help any driver boost safety awareness, refresh and improve driving skills, minimize crash risks, increase confidence, prolong mobility, and maintain independence.</p>stockBoomers & Beyond

<p class="indent">Surely there isn’t a person out there who doesn’t enjoy getting a good discount on something. With the AARP Smart Driver Program, folks can get a discount on car insurance while also learning about being safer drivers. It’s a win-win for everyone.

<p class="indent">The course is reportedly the nation’s largest classroom and online driver safety course and is geared to drivers 50 and older.

<p class="indent">The AARP Smart Driver Program has been offered for more than 30 years by trained instructors and must be taken every three years in order to be current for the automobile insurance discount.

<p class="indent">Why take a class such as this?

<p class="indent">There are many and varied reasons why it may be helpful for people to sign up for the Smart Driver Program.

<p class="indent">The course is designed to help any driver boost safety awareness, refresh and improve driving skills, minimize crash risks, increase confidence, prolong mobility, and maintain independence.

<p class="indent">Each person completing the four-hour class may receive up to three years in auto insurance savings and should check with their individual insurance carrier for verification of the discount.

<p class="indent">The cost for a certified course is $15 for AARP members (AARP card required) and $20 for nonmembers. There are no written or driving tests.

<p class="indent">Pre-registration for the course is required.

<p class="indent">Some of the classes for this month have already taken place. The following are the remaining times and locations for classes in September:

<p class="indent">• <strong>Tuesday, Sept. 25</strong>: 1 p.m., St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church, 1500 Country Club Rd., Room 304. To register, call Armin Brahm, instructor, at 337-842-8201.

<p class="indent">• <strong>Tuesday, Sept. 25</strong>: 9 a.m., Dynamic Dimensons, 545 Cypress St., Sulphur. To register, call Armin Brahm, instructor, at 337-842-8201.

<p class="indent">Additional local AARP Smart Driver Program instructors include Paul Arnold, Verlin Sonnier, and Tonya Goss. All instructors are unpaid volunteers.

<p class="indent">After you take the class, perhaps you’ll sign up to be a volunteer too and then you can help others learn how to be safe drivers.

<hr /><p class="indent"><em>For future scheduled classes, visit: <a href="https://local.aarp.org/lakecharles-la/aarp-events/" target="_blank"><strong>local.aarp.org/lakecharles-la/aarp-events/</strong></a>.</em>