In an effort to help keep local senior citizens and their families safe in the car, AAA, SourcePoint and community safety partners are joining forces to hold a “Senior Safety Day” on Thursday, July 14.
Senior driver safety remains a major concern on area roads, as more than 500 drivers over the age of 65 experienced crashes in Delaware County during 2015, according to Ohio Department of Public Safety crash statistics.
Seniors age 65 and older make up the fastest growing age group in the United States, with 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day. Eighty-six percent of these senior citizens still drive.
Senior Safety Day is designed to provide seniors with all the resources they need to address senior mobility challenges, organizers say. The event will feature a range of seminars and hands-on activities all aimed at keeping seniors safe. There will be talks from AAA, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Delaware police, Delaware General Health District, Byers Ford, the Delaware County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit and OhioHealth.
In addition to seminars, visitors can visit vendor booths and interactive stations, including:
• CarFit: This is a national program developed by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association and is designed to give a quick, comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work together. Many aging drivers face changes in vision, flexibility and range of motion, which may reduce their comfort and control behind the wheel. CarFit educates drivers on simple adjustments they can make to enhance both comfort and safety.
• Vehicle Safety Features: Byers Ford and Chesrown Chevrolet Buick GMC Inc. will demonstrate safety features in 2017 vehicles. Participants can sit in the vehicles and experience these features.
• Brake Reaction Timer: Knowing your reaction time is important when determining the amount of space to leave when traveling behind another vehicle. Participants have the opportunity to test their reaction time.
• Impairment Goggles: Impaired driving is a large safety concern. Impairment goggles give participants a good idea of what it’s like to be under the influence of certain drugs or alcohol, and demonstrate the difficulties and dangers of driving impaired.
This event will be from noon to 4:30 p.m. at SourcePoint, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware.
For more information on senior mobility issues and programs, visit SeniorDriving.AAA.com.
