Free Assessment to Help Older Drivers Adjust Vehicles

 is holding a program this weekend to aid senior drivers.

lOder adults who still drive will have an opportunity to find out how well they are fitting in their vehicles at a CarFit screening offered by occupational therapy students at Washington University School of Medicine.

Thirty students from the school’s Program in Occupational Therapy will conduct the evaluations. The CarFit screening will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at 4444 Forest Park Ave. East parking lot, near the intersection of Forest Park and Newstead avenues.

This event is free and open to the public. Appointments are preferred but not required. Call CJ at (314) 286-1600 to make an appointment.

Details

The 15-20 minute CarFit assessment measures for a proper “fit” based on a 12-point checklist, including: 

• Safety belt use
• Steering wheel tilt
• Head restraint setting
• Positioning to air bag
• Line of sight over steering wheel
• Positioning to gas/brake pedals
• Mirror adjustment
• Operation of parking brake and ignition key
• Operation of other vehicle controls

CarFit is an educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with the American Automobile Association (AAA), AARP and American Occupational Therapy Association.

Its goal is to educate older adult drivers on recommended safety standards that will ensure they have the most control over their vehicles, increase their mobility in the community and enhance their safety as drivers.