Helen Hayes Hospital to Host CarFit Safety Even For Older Drivers: April 30, 2016
February 2, 2016Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, NY will host a CarFit driving safety event for older drivers on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 9:00am to 12:00pm in the hospital’s Parking Lot G. The event, which is free and open to the public by appointment, will provide attendees with personalized vehicle evaluations by certified CarFit technicians, helping older drivers achieve a perfect fit for increased driving safety.
HHH’s CarFit technicians will spend approximately 20 minutes with each driver, going through a 12 point checklist to evaluate vehicle fit, making changes to seat and mirror positions, helping drivers achieve proper foot placement, and aiding with other adjustments that tailor a car’s “fit” to its driver. Each driver will also receive a bag filled with community resources, information about driving safety, and adaptive equipment options to trial that might help with positioning the person better in his or her car.
While older drivers are considered the safest drivers when it comes to wearing a seatbelt, driving within the speed limit and refraining from drinking and driving, they are also the most likely to get seriously injured or killed in a car accident due to the increased fragility of the aging body. Driving a vehicle that has been properly adjusted to fit the user can not only increase the safety of the driver, but also the safety of others on the road. The CarFit national educational program was created by the American Society on Aging, in collaboration with AAA (American Automobile Association), AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. (AOTA) to ensure that all older drivers are able to achieve maximum safety.
This event is being presented with the support of the Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation. Appointments for the HHH CarFit event can be made by calling 845-786-4807. Additional information about the national CarFit program is available at http://www.car-fit.org/.
