Driver, 76, Wants a Hands-On Refresher

Reader Helen Lynch will celebrate her 77th birthday July 16 and is worried she might be losing some of her “freeway nerve.” She’s watched as some of her friends have surrendered their car keys in their advancing years and worries about others “who need a pillow to see over the steering wheel.”

So she gave us a call last week asking if there was a proactive way for her to test and sharpen her skills. She drives every day, she says, and she wants to keep it that way. Turns out there are several places for her and other seniors to turn:

* The American Assn. of Retired Persons sponsors “55 Alive/Mature Driving,” a class for people age 50 and older. The two-day class--four hours each day--costs $8. One starts today at 12:30 p.m. at the Stanton Cultural Arts and Recreation Center. For a schedule of upcoming classes in other areas, call (213) 380-1800.

* The California Senior Drivers Assn. has a similar eight-hour class, but packs it all into one marathon session. Fee is $18. Call (800) 655-1060 for schedules.

* Another option is the “Responsible Driver Course Home Study Edition” for folks who can’t make meetings. It costs $21. Call (800) 233-0226.

After collecting all this data, we called Lynch back expecting her to be impressed by our efforts. We thought she’d be thrilled too to hear that any of these courses would qualify her for a Department of Motor Vehicles Mature Driver Improvement Certificate and, perhaps, a car insurance discount.

Boy, were we wrong.

“No, no, I already took the mature driver’s course at the seniors center in Anaheim. . . . That’s all tests and talking,” she said. “I’d like a hands-on driving course for seniors. I want somebody to take me out on a big empty lot and let me skid around on rain or snow. I just want to know I’m doing the right thing.”

Ah. Back to the phone. A few quick calls to private driving schools throughout the county show that helping seniors brush up on their skills is a growing part of the industry, especially near the Leisure World sites in Seal Beach and Laguna Hills.

One problem: The costs of the road tests are a lot steeper than the classroom courses offered by nonprofit groups. An informal survey found that hitting the streets with a tutor can cost anywhere from $20 to $45 an hour.

One of the instructors we talked to, George Hensel at California Driving School, said the courses are a great way for seniors to gauge their skill level and learn little ways to compensate for diminished reflexes, agility and vision.

“Our oldest student was 92, and we specialize in older folks,” said Hensel, president of the Los Angeles-based school and a senior himself at 74. “Your reader is a young lady by that standard.”

One problem: Hensel said his school can’t provide barrels of rainwater or heaps of artificial snow to give Lynch the rugged road test she really wants.

“No, but it is a very practical idea on her part,” Hensel said. “She must be a sharp gal.”

ADJUST YOUR TRACKING: A proposal to build an urban rail system through the heart of Orange County is a hot-button issue these days. Some people can’t look past the price; others focus only on the potential to relieve congestion. And everyone seems to have an opinion about the best route for the project if it ever does become a reality.

Starting this week, you can join that dialogue.

Officials with the Orange County Transportation Authority are hosting two community open houses this week to present their case for a rail system that would carry commuters through the county’s dense central corridor, where one-third of its residents live. The proposed 28-mile route would start in Anaheim and end in Irvine.

Proponents say the system will relieve congestion in coming years due to expected heavy growth. Opponents say the cost--as much as $1.8 billion--is too great, and they point to the financial woes and failures of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles.

Want to hear more about the plan and share your view? Here’s information on the meetings:

* In Orange, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, at the OCTA offices, 550 S. Main St.

* In Irvine, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Lakeview Senior Center, 20 Lake Road.

* In Fullerton, 4:30 to 7 p.m. June 4 at the Fullerton Senior Center, 349 W. Commonwealth Ave.

If you can’t make the meetings, you can share your thoughts by mailing letters to OCTA Community Relations, P.O. Box 14184, Orange, CA 92863-1584. Or fax a copy to the agency at (714) 560-5795.

THIS WEEK’S TIP: The weather forecasters say we should enjoy a respite in upcoming days from the May showers that created havoc last week on local freeways. But, as the Automobile Club of Southern California reminds us, this is a good time to change those windshield wipers that failed you during the last storm. Some other things to check on while it’s still dry out:

* Is your battery weak? Good time to recharge or replace it.

* Are your ignition wires, distributor cap or spark plugs worn?

* Do you have an emergency kit in your car? Flashlight, blanket, booster cables and flares are key items.

The Roads Scholar wants to hear your insights, stories and questions about traffic, the commuting experience and Orange County transportation issues.

Call Geoff Boucher at (714) 966-5724, send e-mail to him at geoff.boucher@latimes.com or mail letters to Geoff Boucher, c/o The Roads Scholar, The Times Orange County, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Please include your full name and phone number.

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The Callbox

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: What is the worst stretch of freeway in Orange County?

“The obvious winner (or is it loser?) is the 55 Freeway, in both directions, between the 5 and 405 freeways. It is the most prone to delays at any hour of the day.”

--Patrick Molloy, Lake Forest

“The stretch of freeway I dislike immensely is the 91 west of the 57. . . . I’m sure there must be many accidents.”

--Juliann Blake, Huntington Beach

“It has to be the El Toro Y, where the 405 and 5 meet. Everyone dreams of driving through there without traffic.”

--Bill Walkup, Dana Point

THIS WEEK’S TOPIC: What is the worst habit of Southern California drivers?

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Phone in your comments to The Callbox at (714) 966-5724 or send e-mail to geoff.boucher@latimes.com