The Pasco Sheriff’s Office wants to ensure our older drivers are safe when
they hit the roadways. We have partnered with AAA to conduct the CarFit
program at our office at 8700 Citizen Drive on March 1st from 10-2pm. Given
the recent tragedy in Bradenton when a 79 year old woman backed into a crowd
of people killing three, we feel this program is more vital than ever to our
citizens. We are reaching out to our media friends in the hopes you will do a
preview piece on this program to ensure we get a good turnout to better help
our senior drivers. Or add it to your website and event calendars.
With the goal of keeping seniors safe on the roads, driving experts today
staged a new safety program designed to help seniors find out how the “fit” of
their personal vehicle affects their driving. Older adult drivers lined up
their vehicles in the parking lot at the PSO Administration Building to take
part in CarFit, an innovative national program designed to give a quick
comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work
together. The event also provided motorists with community traffic safety
resources intended to keep them driving safely longer.
As we age, changes in our vision, flexibility, strength, range of motion and
even size and height may make us less comfortable and reduce our control
behind the wheel. CarFit provides older adults with the tools to understand
and apply the safety features of their vehicles.
At the CarFit event in March, trained volunteers will complete a 12-point
checklist with each driver. Among the items checked: Is the person positioned
correctly in the driver’s seat? Can the person reach the pedals easily? Does
the person know how to adjust mirrors properly or have the flexibility to use
the mirrors?
After visiting the trained volunteer professional, the driver will consult
with an occupational therapist who, if needed, discussed ways drivers can
maintain and improve aspects related to their driving health. The therapists
will offer information to participants addressing individual needs, including
information about local community resources on exercise, nutrition and other
programs to help keep them safe on the road.
It is critically important that mature drivers make safety a personal
priority. Driving today is more difficult than ever because of increased
traffic congestion, longer commute distances, larger vehicles and faster
speeds. Older drivers can take important measures themselves to mitigate the
stress associated with driving.
Please let me know if you are interested in doing a preview story of CarFit,
please give me a call. We will also be allowing media in to cover the event
on March 1st. Thank you for helping us spread the word on this important
program.
Source: Pasco Sheriff’s Office
