The ability of an older adult to move about their community to shop for personal goods and services and for recreation and socialization is essential for full participation in all aspects of life. The inability to be mobile in the community makes it difficult for older adults to visit the doctor, socialize with friends and acquire goods, and places older adults at a high risk for isolation and depression.Community mobility for older adults is likely to occur in a private automobile. Approximately 89% of trips taken by older adults are in private automobiles as either the driver or passenger (Houser, 2005). On a whole, older adults account for one-fourth of the total driving population in the United States and they are likely to spend more time traveling in private vehicles than younger adults. A report by AARP (Ritter, 2002) of over 2,400 U.S. adults over the age of 50 reported that they make on an average 5 trips away from home per week. It is important to note that in this study with advanced age and poor health or disability the number of weekly trips declined.
In 2012 there were 2,744,378 automobile drivers over the age of 65 in the state of Florida. Florida ranked second in a list of ten states with the greatest total number of licensed drivers over the age of 65 (California leads the nation with over 3 million older drivers). Florida also led the nation with 271 drivers age 65 and older that were killed in a traffic crash in 2010 (TRIP, 2012).
Adults over the age of 65 are often safe drivers. They bring a wealth of experience to driving; they wear seatbelts, and are less likely to drive recklessly (AAA, 2012). However some of the skills required for safe driving diminish with age, such as decreased visual acuity and mobility of the neck, arms and legs. Older drivers also have a much higher injury and fatality risk if they are involved in a crash. Older bodies are more frail and fragile, making them more susceptible to injury, and making older adults more likely to die from the same injury sustained by a younger adult (NHTSA, 2013).
Florida’s older drivers can improve their safety by ensuring that their personal automobile is properly adjusted to fit them correctly by attending a local CarFit event. A proper fit in one’s car can greatly increase not only the driver’s safety but also the safety of others (AAA, 2012). CarFit is a community based educational program that is free to seniors and helps older adults to properly “fit” into their personal vehicle. The program was created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with the AAA (American Automobile Association), AARP and American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
According to CarFit’s fact sheet, the program has three goals: to help seniors improve the fit of their vehicles; promote conversations about safe driving and mobility options; and offer resources to help ensure safe driving among seniors.
This process begins with the senior driving his or her vehicle to the appointment and completing some simple paperwork. The trained technician will review and help the senior properly adjust: Side and rear view mirrors for blind spots, Safety belt, Head restraint, Steering wheel height and controls (including turn signals, emergency flashers, parking brake, horn and headlights). The technician will also discuss proper brake and gas pedal adjustment, as well as entering and exiting the vehicle. Finally an occupational therapist will review the seniors CarFit checklist, offering resources for seniors with limited mobility to improve safety while driving.
