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AAA & ECC occupational therapy assistants host 'CarFit' event

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Mon, May 8th 2017 11:50 am

Experts will adjust cars to ensure safety for senior drivers

AAA Western and Central New York is teaming up with Erie Community College's occupational therapy assistant program along with other occupational therapy clinicians to ensure senior drivers' cars "fit" them. The "CarFit" event, being held at ECC North Campus from 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, is designed to improve older drivers' safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted specifically to them.

The program is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle, to highlight actions they can take to improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility. AAA said a proper fit in one's personal vehicle can greatly increase not only the driver's safety but also the safety of others.

Participants should enter from Wehrle Drive onto Element Drive. Event parking can be found in lot 8.

A team of trained technicians from AAA, as well as ECC OTA students and health professionals will work with each participant individually to ensure they "fit" their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety. A "CarFit" check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

Interested drivers must register to secure a spot. They can do so by visiting https://westerncentralny.aaa.com/events/car-fit.

AAA stated older drivers are often the safest drivers in that they are more likely to wear their seatbelts, and less likely to speed or drink and drive. However, older drivers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash does occur due to the greater fragility of their aging bodies.

Driver safety programs, AAA concluded, improve adult driver safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills. Older drivers can also improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them. A proper fit in one's car can greatly increase not only the driver's safety, but also the safety of others.

As upstate New York's largest member services organization, AAA provides nearly 860,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.

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