AAA East Central Helps Older Drivers Find Their Safest Fit

In an effort to keep members of the community safe, AAA East Central is hosting CarFit event to teach older drivers how to properly fit in their own vehicles, highlight actions they can take to improve their fit, and promote driver safety. The CarFit event will be held on Wednesday, January 6th at the Middletown Fire Station #2, 10217 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40223 from 2:00 PM- 4:00 PM.

“We’re looking at several key points when it comes to fitting safely in your car,” AAA East Central Safety Advisor Chris Ralston says. “This program is going to help seniors drive longer, while keeping themselves and others on the road protected,” he added.

Older adult drivers will arrive in their own vehicles and are shown through a driving circuit where several trained technicians help them adjust the comfort, safety and fit of their car through a 12-point checklist. Carfit is an education program created by the American Society of Aging and developed with AAA and AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Some of the key areas that will be highlighted are adjusting mirrors to blind spots, foot positioning on the gas and brake pedals, a seat that fits you comfortably and safely and proximity to the steering wheel.

Driving today is more difficult than ever because of increased traffic, faster speeds or longer commutes. Even though research finds older drivers are among the safest drivers because they’re more likely to wear seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive; as people age, they’re more prone to suffer serious injuries or risk death in crashes due to fragility. Seniors have the highest crash death rate per mile of everyone except teenagers. The number of older drivers on the roads is also getting higher. People over 65 are the fastest-growing population in the United States. By 2030, there will be an estimated 58.9 million people age 65 and older.

Making these adjustments may help make a lifesaving difference. Majority of participants are willing to make a change to improve the fit of their vehicles and the use of safety features in their cars.

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