Car dealership sponsors driver safety course

CARNEYS POINT TWP. Pointe Pontiac Buick GMC is offering scholarships to attendees of a driver safety class offered by the AARP at Merion Gardens Assisted Living here June 10 and 11.

Drivers who complete the two day course, sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons, could earn multi-year discounts from New Jersey auto insurance providers and reduce some penalty points against driving licenses. There are no tests during the course which will be help from 1 to 5 p.m. on both days.

Normally, AARP requires each participant pay a $10 fee to cover the cost of class materials. This month, Larry Davis, owner of Pointe Pontiac-Buick-GMC offered to pay the cost for an entire class.

"We are committed to giving back to our community and this seemed like an ideal fit. We provide transportation and this course helps raise safety awareness which can only benefit our customers and neighbors," said Davis.

Drivers need not be AARP members or senior citizens to attend classes or qualify for an insurance discount. Class size is limited. Interested drivers should call Merion Gardens at 299-0300.

Drivers who attend the course, approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission and taught by an AARP volunteer, will receive a certificate that could help lower their auto insurance premiums for up to three years as well as reduce some drivers NJMVC penalty points by two points, according to AARP literature.

The program will be offered at Merion Gardens Assisted Living Residence, 315 Merion Avenue, Carneys Point. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Call 299-0300 for more information.

With tips of use for all drivers, the class sessions are designed for drivers over age 50 and will help raise participants' awareness of how aging or some medications affect driving as well as update them on rules of the road and related subjects like ABS, road rage, blind spots and SUVs.

According to AARP, the likelihood of attendees being involved in an auto accident or receiving a traffic ticket should decrease by 15 percent following the completion of the two sessions. Nationwide, over 700,000 drivers complete this course each year with an insurance savings realized of $45.5 million. AARP states that over 9 million drivers have taken this course since its inception.