Although seniors are often the safest drivers in that they are more likely to wear their seatbelts, and less likely to speed or drink and drive, they are more likely to die when a crash occurs.
Driver safety programs improve senior driver safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills, however, seniors can also improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them. With the information provided in AAA's new program, CarFit, seniors are now able to do just that.
What is CarFit?
Developed by the American Society on Aging (ASA) in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), CarFit is an educational program designed to help mature drivers find out how well they "fit" with their vehicles, and what actions might be taken to improve this fit. A proper fit in one's car can greatly increase not only the driver's safety but also the safety of others.
CarFit aims to reduce senior crashes and the death and injuries that may result, by reviewing each of the following criteria:
1. Safety belt use
2. Steering wheel tilt
3. Head restraint setting
4. Positioning to air bag
5. Line of sight over steering wheel
6. Positioning to gas pedal
7. Positioning of brake pedals
8. Mirror adjustment
9. Neck Mobility
10. Operation of parking brake
11. Operation of ignition key
12. Operation of other vehicle controls
CarFit can also provide valuable information to seniors that have difficulty:
- Reaching the shoulder harness and buckling/unbuckling the seat belt,
- Getting into and out of their vehicle easily,
- Turning their head to look over their shoulder while changing lanes,
- Sitting comfortably, without knee, back, hip, neck or shoulder stiffness or pain.
To learn if events are being held in your area, please click here.
In a recent evaluation of 300 seniors...
...over one-third (37%) had at least one critical safety issue needing addressed
...one in ten (10%) were seated too close to the steering wheel
...approximately 20% did not have a line of sight at least 3" over the steering wheel
