A chance of snow in this weekend’s winter forecast is leading advocates toward an unusually early warning: Elderly drivers must stay on their toes.

Drivers of a certain age face a variety of more complex issues than the national average. While stereotypes often point to the eyes as a dwindling necessity for older motorists, the elderly fight with an assortment of late-stage concerns, such as muscle deterioration, slowing reaction time, a narrowing field of view, slowing neck joints and cognitive function, among others.

The numbers for aging motorists give drivers of all ages pause. Licensed drivers ages 80 and older are significantly more likely to die in car crashes than any other group except teens, according to AAA statistics. The travel organization states that an older person’s more frail health is more responsible for the higher death toll than deteriorating skillsets.

“In light of their comparatively low overall crash involvement rates and rates of injuries and deaths of other people outside of their vehicle, the high death rate of the oldest drivers clearly reflects older people’s elevated risk of dying in the event of a crash, and not excessive risk of crash involvement,” said Brian Tefft of AAA.

The news isn’t all bad for baby boomers and beyond. The same study shows that drivers between 60 and 69 are the safest of any age group in crashes resulting in injuries, non-injury crashes and fatal crashes, citing an apex of experience and confidence combined lower average speeds.

“Confidence is very important,” Norm Toews of Coeur d’Alene said. “I want them to be confident in what they’re doing. If they’re too scared of driving, whether it’s in the snow or not, it’s all the more dangerous for them.”

Toews has taught monthly AARP-sponsored defensive driving classes in the Coeur d’Alene area for 20 years, on top of another 10 years teaching in Colorado. He said the most important lesson he can teach older drivers is the necessity to build confidence in their skills.

“I used to be in the building business, in construction,” he said. “So I’d have to go up on roofs all the time. If I was scared of the edges — of standing on that last shingle — that would make me all the more vulnerable. I was taught it was important to try to take precautious beforehand so you have confidence when you need it. That’s what I hope this class teaches.”

The next course is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. on 9485 N. Maple in Hayden. The six-hour course will teach defensive driving techniques, rules of the road, common tricky situations, new traffic laws and dealing with aggressive drivers.

The course is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. While snacks will be provided during breaktime, attendees are encouraged to bring lunch for their noon break. Attendees will also get three violation points taken off their driving records, and some agencies will also offer discounts on auto insurance for attending.

For more information, or to sign up, call Toews at 208-664-4926. You may also call or text 208-661-0242 to inquire or enroll. While the class, formerly dubbed 55-Alive, was originally geared toward the elderly, Toews said drivers of all ages are encouraged to attend.