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WHILE ACCIDENTS can happen to drivers at any age, the recent deaths in California caused by an 86-year-old man raise questions about older drivers and their competence.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, drivers in Florida under age 19 and older than 80 had the highest rates of accidents involving deaths in 2001.

The American Medical Association is preparing guidelines for doctors urging them to counsel their patients about driving ability. In the meantime, if you or someone you know has compromised skills because of perceptual difficulties (inability to judge distances), medication that affects reasoning or response time, physical impairments or other issues, help is available.

AARP has a driver-safety program plus a discount on insurance for eligible drivers. For more information, call 1-888-227-7669. The Area Agency on Aging also has a driving assessment program called Getting in Gear; for more information, call 727-570-9696, ext 234.

COOL-DOWN STRETCHES are the part of a workout most likely to get shortchanged, but a few seconds may be enough to do the job, reports the American Council on Exercise.

Holding a stretch for as little as 10 seconds could be as effective as holding it for 30 seconds, according to the council's July/August Fitness Matters magazine, citing a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Researchers recruited 23 people to perform a hamstring stretch twice a day. One leg was stretched six times for 10 seconds, with a five-second rest inbetween. The other leg was stretched two times for 30 seconds at a time. After six weeks, measurements showed the range of motion in both hips had improved equally.

Each method took the same total time. So what's the point?

Short-duration stretches, say researchers, are more tolerable, so people will be more likely to do them.

SUMMER PICNICS are a relaxing way to dine, but rules for food safety stand, cautions the Pinellas County Health Department.

To prevent foodborne illness, remember to:

Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling food.

If marinating foods for a long time, keep refrigerated. Don't reuse marinade, or apply to food after it's been cooked.

Do not put cooked food back on same plate that held raw food.

When grilling, a meat thermometer will ensure a safe internal temperature - 160 degrees for ground meats, 170 degrees for poultry, 145 to 160 degrees for beef. Fish should be cooked until opaque and flaky.

Replenish ice or freezer packs in coolers, which better maintain temperature when full.

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