A longtime Zone 6 AARP Smart Driver instructor is being honored for his longtime commitment to the safe driving course.
Kenneth Cole, who will turn 96 Saturday, was recently recognized (and featured in an AARP newsletter) for leading the AARP Smart Driver courses for 30 years in the Macomb area. The daylong program he has taught numerous times over the past three decades focuses on defensive driving techniques, proven safety strategies, traffic laws and rules of the road.
Cole's AARP journey began three decades ago when he and his late wife, Joan, attended a Driver Safety course taught by a friend. According to Cole, it was that same friend who later convinced them to become instructors. Fun fact: Cole still has many of the guidebooks he used while teaching the course over the last 30 years.
'I think it's important to keep teaching this class as it keeps others up-to-date on new traffic laws and new technology in cars, which in turn can help them be a safer driver,' Cole said.
The Korean War veteran was a bus driver for the Macomb School District for 30 years and then went on to drive a bus for the community's and Western Illinois University's bus system, GoWest, for another four years. He retired from his bus driving gig 14 years ago at the age of 81.
'Ken's dedication to safe driving is truly remarkable,' said Betty Lawler, AARP Driver Safety. 'Since he began teaching in 1995, he has led 133 classes and taught an astonishing 1,907 students.'
The AARP Smart Driver Course is the nation's largest in-person and online driver safety course. While it's designed for drivers age 50 and older, anyone can take the course to satisfy safe driving requirements (though insurance- eligible discounts are available only to those 50+).
