New volunteers added to driver program

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Craig Smith and Nancy Neterval are the latest volunteers to be added to the AARP Driver Safety Program in the Alexandria area.

Both their backgrounds make them a good fit for teaching the AARP Drivers Safety Program, according to AARP leaders. Smith is a retired Alexandria Technical College instructor and currently vice president of Alexandria Aircraft LLC.

Neterval works at Lakeland Mental Health Center in Fergus Falls. Her career journey has presented many opportunities to work with adults and children. 

Driver Safety Program candidate instructors must go through training and mentoring with another instructor before teaching their first class.

Currently, there are seven volunteer instructors serving the Alexandria area.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the first and largest classroom driver safety course designed especially for drivers age 50 and older to help people live more independently as they age.

The AARP course covers the normal changes in vision, hearing and reaction time associated with aging and provides practical techniques on how to adjust to these changes.

Participants also learn how to operate their vehicles more safely in today’s increasingly challenging driving environment.

After completing the course, participants will develop a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how to avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others.

AARP membership is not required to take the course. The first-time, eight-hour course and four-hour refresher course is sponsored by the Alexandria Senior Center and offered numerous times each month. Call (320) 762-2087 for dates and times.

Tags: local news, driver program, news, volunteers, aarp, smith, neterval