Making sure cars properly “fit” seniors not only might make driving a more comfortable experience, but could prevent injuries and accidents from occurring.
CarFit volunteers converged at Westmere Fire Department on Wednesday, Dec. 4, to make seniors aware about vehicle safety equipment and to fit cars to each individual. Information is given to enhance driver safety, too, along with recommending certain items that can be purchased to make driving safer.
The program was created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with the American Automobile Association, the American Occupational Therapy Association and AARP.
Donna Stressel, an occupational therapist and CarFit volunteer, said the event, which is typically held during the summer, was held during national Older Driver Safety Awareness Week.
“Most older drivers are safe drivers, but they are at a higher instance of being injured or killed in the event of a crash, even at a low-mileage or low-speed crash,” Stressel said. “This is partly because of frailty … but also because some of the features in a car that are designed to protect them are not being utilized to the fullest — they don’t have a good fit.”
There are several points on the checklist such as seat belt usage, steering wheel tilt and head restraint adjustments, distance between chest and steering wheel, line of sight above the steering wheel and operation of vehicle controls.
Stressel said the checklist is gone through with each driver so they know how to make the adjustments needed in their vehicle. If something can’t be adjusted, there might be other solutions to the problem.
“If we find a red flag item, something even with the education and the adjustment in the vehicle (where) we can’t get a good fit, then we have some other gadgets that we might suggest,” she said.
Stressel said the majority of people leave learning something and have a “good time” learning best practices and getting their car fitted.
“We do find usually at least one item per vehicle coming through that we are making adjustments,” she said. “Probably the biggest thing that we recommend (is) mirror adjustments.”
Loudonville resident Margaret Logan said she learned how to adjust her mirrors properly and where her emergency flashers are located.
“I am glad I came out,” Logan said. “I am going to tell my sister to sign up.”
In 2008, 13 percent of the population, or 34 million people, was 65 years and older, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There was a 19 percent increase in older drivers from 1997 to 2007, which totaled 31 million drivers representing 15 percent of all licensed drivers.
Besides health implications from a car crash, the average economic costs of one non-fatal motor vehicle injury in the country is around $63,500, and approximately $1.3 million for one fatal injury, according to the National Safety Council.
For information on CarFit and to find area events, visit www.car-fit.org. Several events are held throughout the year in the Capital District.
