Genesis Event Will Help Older Drivers Find Their Perfect Fit

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Older drivers are often the safest drivers because they're more likely to wear their seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive, statistics show.

They're also more likely to be seriously injured in a crash because their aging bodies are more fragile.

To promote senior driving safety, Genesis will host a second CarFit© event on Tuesday, July 29.  All of the available spots for a similar event on June 20 were filled.

CarFit© is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles "fit" them.  Health professionals will work with older drivers and review 12 key areas to ensure they "fit" their vehicle properly for maximum safety.  A CarFitÒ check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Older drivers are welcome to set up an appointment for Tuesday, July 29 between 1-4 p.m. at Genesis Medical Center, West Central Park campus in Davenport. (lower lot on the West Lombard Street side.)

"Older drivers can improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them," said Gretchen Cluff, an Occupational Therapist at Genesis and a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist.  "A proper fit in their car can greatly increase not only the driver's safety but also the safety of others."

CarFit© is a national educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

"Once seniors arrive, they will check in for basic information and then we will evaluate how they fit in their car," explained Cluff, who is a trained CarFit©  event coordinator.  "For example, are they sitting too close to the airbag?  Are their mirrors adjusted appropriately to maximize their view?  Is their seat in the best position to reach the brake and gas pedals?

"We can only make recommendations and can't touch or change anything for liability reasons.  We can, however, provide them important information that could increase their driving safety."

Three examples underscore the importance of road safety to the CarFit program:

• Knowing how to properly adjust one's mirrors can greatly minimize blind spots for drivers when changing lanes.
• Good foot positioning on the gas and brake pedals is important. Drivers who reach with their toes to press on the pedals can cause fatigue in their legs and slow reaction time.
• Drivers run a risk of serious injury if they are sitting closer than 10 inches to the steering wheel.

Other CarFit© events have shown that more than one-third of seniors had at least one critical safety issue. One in 10 sat too close to the steering wheel, and 20 percent did not have a line of sight at least 3 inches over the steering wheel.

Genesis offers the only hospital-based driver's evaluation program in eastern Iowa with a Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialist.

To register for the CarFit© on July 29, call (563) 421-1480.