Occupational therapy department holds CarFit safety program March 26

GREENVILLE, N.C.  —   East Carolina University’s occupational therapy department will host CarFit, a free, interactive program that gives a quick comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work together.

The event will be held 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 26, at Eastern Pines Church of Christ, 3380 Portertown Road, Greenville. No appointment is needed. The assessment takes about 15 minutes.

Organized by ECU Professor Anne Dickerson, occupational therapy graduate students will lead older drivers through a 12-point checklist with their vehicle, recommend car adjustments or adaptations and provide information to ensure the safest “fit” for older drivers and their vehicles. Among the items checked: Is the person positioned correctly in the driver’s seat? Can the person reach the pedals easily? Does the person know how to adjust mirrors properly or have the flexibility to use the mirrors?

CarFit was developed through a collaboration of the American Society of Aging, AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. By 2030, one in five drivers will be age 65 or older with more than 30 million older adults on the road. Seniors have the highest crash death rate per mile except teenagers, officials said.

For questions about the CarFit event, call D.J. Maxey at 252-752-8899 or e-mail Anne Dickerson at dickersona@ecu.edu.