AAA Michigan is implementing the first in-car safety program to help reduce the number of older Americans injured in car crashes by ensuring a senior's proper fit in the vehicle. The free program, called CarFit(R), is designed to ensure older Americans have properly adjusted their vehicles to help reduce senior crashes and the death and injuries that can result.
Drivers age 65 and older can receive a quick, but comprehensive check of how well they "fit" with their vehicle. A series of CarFit(R) events are scheduled throughout the state, beginning Friday, May 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the AAA branch office in Grand Rapids.
CarFit(R) uses a 12-point checklist to ensure that senior drivers are sitting properly in their vehicles and that seats, seatbelts, mirrors, steering wheels, head restraints, gas/brake pedals and other controls are positioned properly for each driver. A proper fit can help improve seniors' visibility of the roadway and control of their vehicle.
"Although seniors are often the safest drivers when it comes to wearing their seatbelts, and they are less likely to speed or drink and drive, age- related fragility makes them more likely to be injured when a crash does occur," said Jack Peet, Manager, AAA Community Safety Services. "Older Americans need to take extra care to ensure their cars are properly adjusted for them."
AAA Michigan's CarFit(R) schedule through June 2007:
(All events are from 1-4 p.m. and are by appointment only;
call 1-800-646-4222 to schedule a time.)
Friday, May 11 Grand Rapids North 4650 Plainfield Ave., NE
Friday, May 18 Saginaw 3785 Bay Road
Tuesday, May 22 Marquette 3020 U.S. 41 West
Wednesday, May 23 Lansing 2829 E. Grand River Ave.
Wednesday, May 23 Alpena 2539 US-23 South
Friday, June 1 Waterford 5140 Highland Road
Friday, June 8 Brighton 8350 W. Grand River Ave.
Friday, June 15 Flint G-5009 W. Bristol Road
Friday, June 22 Traverse City 940 US-31 North
The American Society on Aging developed CarFit(R) in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association after more than two years of research and development. A pilot evaluation found the program is strongly needed. Early data show that more than one-third of seniors had at least one safety issue needing to be addressed.
The U.S. has more than 28 million drivers 65 and older on the roads today and more than 191,000 were injured in crashes in 2005, according to statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. By the year 2020 there will be more than 40 million senior drivers in the U.S.
Source: AAA Michigan
1 koment:
Most of the mature drivers are much experienced in driving, but they done their bit of education very long ago and their age will create some sort of problems so Addressing those issues and updating them with law changes will improve their driving skills.
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