Free driver safety checks offered to Crawford County seniors

Submitted article

In an effort to keep the growing number of active senior drivers safe and secure in their vehicles, Crawford County Council on Aging Multipurpose Senior Center and AAA are partnering to hold a CarFit for local seniors.

CarFit is a free, interactive and educational program designed to improve older driver safety. Trained volunteers provide information to ensure the safest “fit” for older drivers and their vehicle.

The program will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Crawford County Council on Aging Multipurpose Senior Center, 200 S. Spring St., Bucyrus. To schedule an appointment, call Candace Kalb at 419-562-9969. Walk-ins are also welcome. Free donuts and coffee will be available.

The approximately 20-minute CarFit check-up involves a 12-point checklist, which includes line of sight over the steering wheel, seat belt usage, gas and brake foot pedal placements and other aspects of fitting safely and comfortably in a vehicle. CarFit does not assess driving ability.

Vehicle fit is especially important for older drivers, because as people age, conditions that affect driving, such as changes in vision, flexibility and range of motion become more prevalent and may reduce comfort and control behind the wheel. Simple adjustments can greatly enhance both comfort and safety.

Seniors age 65 and older make up the fastest growing age group in the United States, and 86 percent of them still drive, according to a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study. While these drivers are more likely to wear their seat belts, less likely to drink and drive and less likely to speed, age-related frailties make senior drivers more likely to be injured or killed in a crash.

AAA offers a number of tools and resources to help keep seniors driving safer, longer. More information is available at SeniorDriving.AAA.com.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 55 million members with travel-, insurance-, financial- and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited online at AAA.com.