JULY 18, 2007

Unlike a pair of shoes or gloves, most drivers don't give much thought about how well their vehicle "fits" them and that can be a concern, advises Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and AAA Michigan.

That is why the Department of State has teamed up with AAA Michigan to promote CarFit, a traffic safety campaign offered at no cost to state residents. CarFit educates mature drivers on how to properly adjust their vehicle's controls, mirrors, seats and other components for their height and size.

"Making sure all of your vehicle's controls are properly set is important," Land said. "This becomes even more crucial as you age and begin to experience changes in mobility, vision and hearing. CarFit provides a great refresher on some of the critical points of safe driving and is well worth the time."

"This gives participants a 'baseline' on which they can compare themselves next year and beyond," said Jack Peet, AAA Michigan Community Safety Services manager. "CarFit helps us meet our objective of keeping senior drivers behind the wheel safely. It helps them recognize when it might be time to re-evaluate their driving."

About 110 people went through a CarFit evaluation during the first part of the campaign in May and June. Participants reported that the service was beneficial, provided good information and helped them learn to better monitor their driving habits. The program's second segment begins in August and ends in September. Evaluations will be offered on the following dates at the local AAA office:

• Aug. 1 at 6305 Kenowa Ave. S.W., Grandville
• Aug. 2 at 2015 W. Crosstown Parkway, Kalamazoo
• Sept. 11 at 1111 S. Euclid Ave., Bay City
• Sept. 14 at 37383 6 Mile Road, Livonia
• Sept. 17 at 2650 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor
• Sept. 21 at 2017 N. Canton Center Road, Canton
• Sept. 24 at 25195 Kelly Road, Roseville
• Sept. 28 at 15150 Fort St., Southgate

To qualify, you must be a licensed driver at least 65 years old and own a registered vehicle. Call AAA Community Safety Services at (800) 646-4222 to schedule an appointment.

Secretary of State branch offices near CarFit exam sites will provide printed materials and a schedule of events. A list of CarFit dates, times and sites is available on the department's Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos. Branch office locations, hours and services are provided through the department's online Branch Office Locator.

CarFit was developed through collaboration among the American Occupational Therapy Association, AAA and AARP.

Related Links
>  2007 CarFit Schedule (PDF)
> CarFit Brochure (PDF)