Don’t drive until you’re ‘fit’

Staying safe on the road starts with vehicle compatibility

By Betsy Butler, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System

Dec. 14, 2023 – Is the Sunday drive a part of your story, like it is mine? With my dad behind the wheel, we picked a different destination each week and took to Ohio’s byways, stopping to treat ourselves to ice cream, browse roadside farm stands, tour historic destinations and generally take in the scenery.

Now that I’m the one doing all the driving, my focus has shifted from the destination to the journey. As much as I love road trips, I’ve traded the luxury of back-seat napping for building up the strength, flexibility and endurance that driving requires.

For a comfortable, safe ride, it’s important to find the perfect fit in your vehicle.

CarFit, a free, educational program created by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, reviews your vehicle’s safety features, recommends adjustments to ensure your comfort and safety, and provides information on community resources through in-person sessions and virtual workshops. Look for an event in your area by going to car-fit.org.

The Car-Fit program aims to assist elderly drivers in assessing their compatibility with their own vehicles, identifying ways to enhance this level of comfort, and fostering discussions around driver safety and community mobility.

Indeed, making the proper adjustments can also reduce your risk of injury during a crash. The next time you get behind the wheel, consider these suggestions:

• Measure the distance between your chest and the steering wheel. It should be 10 inches or more to prevent serious injury to your upper body from air bag inflation in the event of a crash. Additionally, is your line of sight at least three inches above the steering wheel, so you have an unobstructed view? Adjust the position of your seat base and/or back accordingly.
• The tilt of the steering wheel determines the angle in which the air bag deploys in the event of a crash. Adjust the steering wheel so it’s tilted toward your chest, not your face.
• Buckle up every time you get into a vehicle. The seat belt is intended to be used with air bags for maximum safety benefit, and correctly wearing it reduces the chance of ejection, keeps you in place, and absorbs energy forces during a crash. Make sure your seat belt is positioned to cross at mid-collar bone and fits tightly and snugly across your hips.
• Can you reach and fully depress the gas and brake pedals, with the ball of your foot? Reaching for the pedals with your toes is both unsafe and can cause leg fatigue and low back discomfort.
• Is your head restraint adjusted so the center of it is in line with the top of your ear? This protects you from whiplash and other injuries, particularly if the vehicle is rear-ended.
• Check for blind spots and adjust your rear and side mirrors accordingly. They work together to provide optimal visibility, especially when merging into traffic and changing lanes.
• Ensure that your left and right turn signals, headlights, high beams, brake lights, windshield wipers, emergency/parking brake, and emergency flashers/hazard lights are not only working correctly, but also that you can identify where they are located. Also, is your horn working? All of these vehicle controls are essential to safe driving.
• Keep your headlights and windshield clean and unobscured, especially free of snow and ice during the winter.

If you live in a household with multiple drivers, remember that each person may require different settings behind the wheel. For the safest fit, make the proper vehicle adjustments each time you drive.