Auto Club: Seniors Getting 'Fit' to Drive Safely
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WHO: The Automobile Club of Southern California, the Santa Monica
Police Department and the Center for Healthy Aging
WHAT: News conference and demonstration of the new, potentially
lifesaving "CarFit" method that helps make senior citizens
safe behind the wheel. Trained technicians and occupational
therapists will lead seniors through a 12-point checklist with
their vehicle and recommend car adjustments to make their cars
"fit" better and enhance their safety.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, 2005, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Santa Monica Pier parking lot 1-North, adjacent to the pier.
WHY: People over 65 are one of the fastest-rowing populations in
California. Within 20 years, seniors will make up 17 percent
of the state's population, 6.5 million drivers. As a group,
seniors are the safest drivers, but in later years, because of
their physical frailty, seniors have the highest crash death
rate per mile of everyone except teenagers.
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