President's Message: CarFit and Older Americans Month


Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO

This May, the country will celebrate Older Americans Month. Originally established by President Kennedy to acknowledge the contributions of seniors, today, the Administration on Aging observes the month by emphasizing the needs of the growing number of healthy, active seniors in our country.

This year, AAA would like to observe Older Americans Month by raising awareness of an issue it believes is of utmost importance to seniors—transportation. Although transportation comes in many forms—public transit, para-transit, and community-based supplemental transportation programs—the ability to drive is inherent to our independence and well-being.

While seniors are often the safest drivers because they are less likely to drink and drive, less likely to speed or be distracted, and more likely to wear their seatbelts, science has shown us that the physical and mental changes that accompany aging can make the driving task more challenging and more risky. There comes a time when each of us will have to consider our own ability as a safe driver, but until then there are things that can be done to help ensure seniors can drive for as long as safely possible.

For this reason, AAA continues its efforts related to its association-wide priority issue of Lifelong Safe Mobility, created in 2003 in recognition of the growing number of seniors. AAA is committed to helping seniors stay both safe and mobile by addressing the three components of traffic safety—the road, the user and the vehicle.

Road improvements such as left-hand turn lanes and larger signage have the potential to improve road safety for all road users, especially seniors. AAA addressed this component of traffic safety by urging Congress to increase funding to make our roads more senior-friendly. To address the user, AAA released a state-of-the-art computer-based screening tool—AAA Roadwise Review—to help seniors evaluate their driving abilities in the privacy of their own homes.

Finally, in an effort to address the third and final element of traffic safety—the vehicle—AAA is rolling out a new program, CarFit, during the nation's observance of Older Americans Month. Developed in collaboration with the American Society on Aging, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, CarFit is an educational program designed to help mature drivers assess how well they "fit" in their vehicles, and what actions might be taken to improve the fit.

A proper fit in one's car will not only make drivers feel more comfortable, but can greatly increase not only the driver's safety but also the safety of others. Using a 12-point checklist, CarFit educates seniors on properly adjusted head restraints and mirrors, assesses the distance from the steering wheel and the proper seatbelt fit, and much more.

For more information on CarFit, call or email AAA Colorado's traffic safety specialist, Wave Dreher, 303-753-8800, ext. 8105; wdreher@colorado.aaa.com, or go to www.aaa.com/drive.

AAA is proud to recognize Older Americans Month, and is equally as proud of its efforts to help seniors drive for as long as it is safely possible.

Tony DeNovellis
President and CEO