BLACKSBURG -- To drive or not to drive.

For senior citizens, the question of how old is too old to get behind the wheel of an automobile isn't always clear. Shakespeare's "Hamlet" doesn't even provide the answer.

"I know it's a concern for a lot of people," said Joy Herbert, director at the Blacksburg Senior Center. "The people here at the center are very active and independent. Driving is very important to them. I don't think anybody's going to admit they have a driving problem."

There are some certainties. One is that senior citizens are the fasting-growing group in the population -- by a ton. According to a recent report from the Virginia Department for the Aging, the number of people 85 and older is growing five times faster than the rest of the population.

Throw in data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicating that motorists 70 and older are involved in more crashes per miles driven than any other age group, and there's reason for concern.

The Blacksburg chapter of AARP, is conducting a two-day, eight-hour course this month and again in April to provide area seniors practical tips for safety on the road.

Bill Wagoner, a 78-year-old retired private pilot and auto dealer, has taught the class in four New River Valley counties including Floyd, Montgomery, Pulaski and Giles each year since he retired about seven years ago.

He's not afraid to tell fellow seniors what they may not want to hear. He's more concerned about enhancing their safety and protecting those with whom they share the road.

"When you slip a little bit each year over a long period of years, you don't realize you're slipping," Wagoner said. "Our changes occur so slowly we're not aware of them."

There are several critical ones, according to Wagoner.

"The main thing is to get older citizens to realize we don't hear, see and react as well as we used to, and we get distracted," Wagoner said. "It's an awareness deal."

The Blacksburg classes, which will be held March 29 and 31 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Blacksburg Senior Center and April 19 and 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Warm Hearth Karr Activity Center, are already almost full.

Those 50 and older are eligible for the course formerly called "55 Alive" while those 55 and older can get a discount on car insurance for three years after taking the course.

The course will include video driving clips from safety experts and will focus mainly on the guidelines presented in a workbook each person can buy for $10.

The content of the workbook and the discussion facilitated by Wagoner emphasize new safety features on cars such as anti-lock brakes and dual air bags along with the most common mistakes seniors make on the road.

Errors often involve turning left across multiple lanes of traffic and failing to yield the right of way.

Wagoner identifies one reason why these mishaps occur so often.

"When us old folks learned how to drive there wasn't many cars on the road," he said. "You have to know when to yield and how to yield when in doubt."

Herbert has no doubt about how effective the driving course can be for seniors.

"I've heard the course makes them more aware of things they learned when they were 18 and got their license but it was a long time ago," Herbert said. "I think certain physical things diminish as you get older. Some you can correct, some you can't."

Senior shorts

n Moose Lodge Bingo and Lunch: Monday, 10:30 a.m., Montgomery County Moose Lodge. Registration deadline Monday at noon. 994-8627.

Blood Drive: noon to 5 p.m., Christiansburg Recreation Center. 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule an appointment.

Tours of Paramount Theater and Ernie Ford House: Wednesday, leave Blacksburg Community Center at 9:30 a.m. and return at 4:30 p.m. The theater in Bristol, Tenn., is a national historic landmark and the setting for concerts, plays, movies and dance. $6, Blacksburg residents; $12, nonresidents. 961-1134.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness talk: Wednesday, 10:15 a.m., Christiansburg Recreation Center. Jessi Martinez, Carilion community educator, will be speaking. 382-2349.

Musical Jam Day: Wednesday, 1 to 3 p.m., Pulaski Senior Center. 994-8627.

Guess the Senior: Thursday, 1 to 2:30 p.m., Christiansburg Recreation Center. $3, town residents; $6, others. Preregister. 382-2349.

Fundamental Pool Lessons: Friday, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Christiansburg Recreation Center. Taught by instructor Dave Moore. $12, town residents; $17, others. Preregister. 382-2349.

St. Patrick's Day trip to Vinton: Friday, leave Christiansburg Recreation Center, 9 a.m. $17, town residents; $14, others. preregister. 382-2349.

Blacksburg AARP meeting: March 21, noon, Blacksburg Recreation Center. Preceded by brown bag lunch at 11:30 a.m. Program, "Making Your Home Safe and Comfortable as You Age" by certified aging-in-place specialist, Tim Lawrence, who will share his expertise on how to make seniors' homes more comfortable and safe as they age. 951-4015.

Basic Beading Class: March 22, 10 a.m., Pulaski Senior Center. No special skills needed. Learn how to make a necklace, earrings and bracelet. $10 per person, including materials for all three pieces. Registration deadline Wednesday. 994-8627.

Memorabilia Day: March 24, 10:30 a.m., Pulaski Senior Center. Bring one or two old photographs, statues or buttons relating to the town of Pulaski or Pulaski County. Prize awarded to whomever brings the oldest or most unique item. Light refreshments served. 994-8627.

Bingo Day: March 29, 1 to 2 p.m., Pulaski Senior Center. Free. 994-8627.

Osteoporosis Seminar: March 30, Radford Recreation Center. $5. Deadline to register is March 23. 731-5517.

Senior Van Tour at New River Trail: April 11, 12, 18, 19, 8:45 a.m., Shot Tower Historical State Park, Austinville. Each guided tour covers 40 miles of trail and includes views of Claytor Lake, the New River and Chestnut Creek. Box lunch provided and park rangers available for questions. Participants 55 and older. $25 per person. By reservation only. (276) 699-6778.

Wheatland Retirement Community is need of volunteers to help monthly with arts and crafts classes. Assistance is also needed on Mondays and Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m., with an Easy Motions wellness program. 382-5700.

NRV Senior Olympic Games: Registration ends April 24. Focus is on fun and fellowship rather than competition. Events include softball hit and throw, tennis, miniature golf, bridge, rook, swimming, bowling, croquet, horseshoes, billiards and more. Pulaski Senior Center, 994-8627.

Free smoke detectors: Offered by Montgomery County fire departments to anyone who needs them. Call your local fire department or Neal Turner, Montgomery County emergency service coordinator, 394-2146.

Personal training and fitness classes: Available at the Blacksburg Senior Fitness Center. Registration is ongoing for Personal Training, Fit over Fifty, Healthy Backs, Pilates for Seniors and Stretch, Balance and Tone classes. Fees vary. Free orientation to the fitness center available by appointment. 961-1134 or 961-1149.

Card games: Bridge, Mondays, 10 a.m.; canasta, Mondays, 1:30 p.m.; beginning canasta, Tuesdays, 2 p.m., Radford Senior Center. 731-5517.

n Novice Knitters: Mondays, 2 to 4 p.m., Blacksburg Senior Center social room. Informal group works on a variety of needle projects. Free. 961-1134.

Duplicate bridge: Mondays, 12:30 p.m., Blacksburg Community Center. Partners required and intermediate to advanced skill levels recommended. 552-5361.

AARP Blacksburg: Third Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Blacksburg Community Center. 552-5818.

Quilting and Ceramics: Tuesdays, 10 a.m., Radford Senior Center. 731-5517.

Gospel singing: Public invited monthly for gospel singing of old hymns on the following schedule: first Tuesdays, 10 a.m., at the Christiansburg Recreation Center senior activities area; and first Wednesdays, 2 p.m., at Wheatland Retirement Center, Christiansburg. Musicians and singers welcome. Mary Dotson, 382-8543.

Party bridge: Second Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, and second and fourth Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Blacksburg Community Center. 961-1134.

Bingo: Wednesdays, 10 a.m., New River Valley Mall community room, Christiansburg. 382-6346.

Creative Memories: First Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Radford Senior Center. Features scrapbooking with leader Lynn Wright. Supplies available or bring your own. Lunch included for $15. 731-5517.

Radford Chapter AARP luncheon: Third Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m., Radford Senior Center. A guest speaker will address seniors each month on a topic of interest. 639-4571.

Seniors workshop: Fourth Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m., Radford Senior Center. $5 fee. 731-5517.

Blood pressure clinics: First Fridays, 9 to 10 a.m., in the Betty Craig Activity Room of the Radford Senior Center. Blood sugar screenings also offered at Friday clinic. 731-5517.

Easy Motions: Less strenuous exercise class. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m., Christiansburg Recreation Center multipurpose room 2A. Doctor's note and registration required, 382-2349.

Walking club and exercise class: Walking club meets weekdays, 6 to 9 a.m. at Central Gym, Pulaski. Free. Exercise class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 9 a.m. Fee is 25 cents per class. 994-8627.

Fun & Fit Fridays: 8 a.m. to noon, at the Blacksburg Senior Center. Billiards, table tennis, shuffleboard, basketball free throws, Frisbee, croquet, horseshoes, boccie and planned outings for other activities. Registration not required. No programs during holiday weeks. 961-1134.

The Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Virginia Blue Ridge: Volunteer consumer-rights advocacy group provides information about options available for funeral and other end-of-life arrangements, www.funerals.org/fcavbr. 953-5589.

Intrepid USA Healthcare Services: Provides free, in-home evaluations to determine whether an individual qualifies for professional home-care services such as home health aid, medical social workers and physical therapy under Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance. 961-5464 or (888) 416-1428.

H2U: Seniors 50 and older may receive national and local benefits from membership in the Montgomery Regional Hospital Chapter. Betty Jahn, 953-5291.