DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711130263

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   77 lines

DRIVING CLASS KEEPS DELIVERERS FOR MEALS ON WHEELS UP TO SPEED

In 21 years delivering mail for the U.S. Postal Service, Jim Morrissey saw all kinds of drivers. The ones he remembers best were bad.

He remembers one woman whose car was rear-ended right next to him on Lynnhaven Parkway back in the days when infants rode in carriers that were just hung over seat backs. ``She had a baby with her and all I saw was that little head flying forward, car seat, seat back and all.''

Morrissey parked his vehicle and ran to help.

Luck was with the mother and baby. By the time he got to the car, the seat back had returned to its original position with baby and infant carrier still safely in place. Against all odds, the baby and mother both came through without a scratch.

Last week, Morrissey, now 73, was among more than 27 people who participated in a 55 Alive Mature Driving Program sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons. It's a course that more than 5 million people throughout the country have taken since it was started in 1979. But this particular group was special.

All of those attending the eight hour training were, like Morrissey, volunteers with the Virginia Beach Meals on Wheels program.

``These are people who go out once a week or once a month to unfamiliar parts of the city looking for unfamiliar addresses. One drives and one navigates. I figured if anyone could use this course, they could,'' said Tom Glickman, a retired Navy captain.

He knows whereof he speaks. He's been a volunteer 55 Alive teacher for seven years and a Meals on Wheels volunteer for more than five. His wife, Pat, is his navigator.

``If we're lucky, we're still speaking to each other when we finish the route,'' he deadpanned.

Glickman started the class for the Meals on Wheels volunteers by listing some sobering statistics.

``One out of every six licensed drivers in the state of Virginia is over the age of 50. This year has not been a good one for us,'' he said. Last year, 87 people over the age of 50 had been killed in crashes in this state by May 31. This year, 126 were killed in the same period of time. Many of us have perfect driving records, but the odds are stacked against us,'' he concluded.

Those odds are what Glickman hopes to improve by making his students more aware of the driving hazards and of their resources for dealing with them. He pulled his class members in with a technique that would have done a used car salesman proud.

``How many of you consider yourself good drivers?'' he asked. Every hand in the room shot up.

``I can make you an even better one by telling you just one thing,'' he said sagely. His students picked up their pens in anticipation.

``Just do this,'' he said. ``Pretend the car in back of you is painted brown, white or blue and gray and has a red and blue light bar on top.'' The class relaxed and Glickman moved on.

For two afternoons, the mature drivers assessed their skills, learned defensive driving techniques, talked about physical limitations and studied various driving environments. Then they ended with a discussion of the topic that all mature drivers fear: making the decision to stop driving.

For most in the class, it will be several years before the day comes when the indicators (repeated fender benders, physical limitations, getting lost or confused) suggest that they hang up their car keys. In the meantime, all of them intend to keep on carrying meals to those who are less mobile.

Morrissey, who was taking 55 Alive for the second time, is one who hopes to continue driving and volunteering for many more years.

``It means so much to people when you bring the meals,'' he said. ``You only wish you could spend more time with each of them. They're lonely, they appreciate what you do.'' MEMO: To volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Virginia Beach, call

340-2066. To register for a 55 Alive course, call 497-9571. Cost of the

course is $8. Many insurance companies lower rates for 55 Alive

graduates. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS

Tom Glickman, a volunteer with AARP, conducts a 55 Alive Mature

Driving class for Meals on Wheels drivers.

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