AAA is urging the adult children of older Americans to use the upcoming Mother's Day (May 12th) and Father's Day (June 17th) to talk to their aging parents about driver safety. The message came as AAA announced a new program to help reduce senior crashes and the injuries and deaths that result.
The U.S. has more than 28 million senior drivers on the roads today, and next to teenagers, seniors are the most vulnerable to death and injury while driving.
The new program, called CarFit, uses a 12-point check list to ensure that senior drivers are sitting properly in their vehicle and that seats, seat belts, mirrors, steering wheels, head rests, 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. CarFit represents the first program designed to improve senior safety by addressing a senior's placement in their vehicle.
"This is the time of year when many baby boomers think about the impact their parents had on their early lives. They recall how they had a safe and healthy childhood because of the love and concern of their parents. Now it is time to show your concern by talking to your parents about safe driving and taking them to a local AAA/CAA office to make sure they are properly fitted in their cars. CarFit can help initiate the often difficult conversation with older parents about driving," said Robert L. Darbelnet, president and CEO of AAA.
CarFit was developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association after more than two years of research and development. As part of Older Americans Month AAA clubs will be unveiling CarFit throughout May by providing information to seniors or offering free CarFit evaluations. Each CarFit evaluation is administered by specially trained volunteers and health professionals such as occupational therapists.
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.
To learn more about CarFit or events in your area log on to www.aaa.com/carfit.