Safe driving begins with you

As with members of other age groups, older individuals use private vehicles more than any other mode of transportation. Persons over age 65 make close to 90 percent of their trips in a private vehicle, either as a passenger or driver. The private vehicle connects people to the goods, services, and activities they need to maintain a high level of independence.

As a group, older drivers are typically safe drivers. They are more likely to wear their seatbelts and less likely to drink and drive. But they are also the group with the highest fatality rates during crashes - a rate that increases slightly for drivers age 65 and older, and significantly for drivers older than 75.

AARP offers two smart ways for older drivers to help themselves become even safer on the road.

The first is our Driver Safety Program. Since 1979, millions of older drivers have benefited from brushing up on their driving skills with AARP and many courses are offered in communities throughout Nevada. Search for a course near you or research the online course at www.aarp.org/driversafety. You can also call us at 1-888-227-7669. Our volunteer driving experts provide latest rules of the road, best practices for avoiding accidents and tips for safe driving on busy road.

Secondly, AARP, in conjunction with AAA and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), has developed a series of online tips and videos developed for a program called CarFit, which is designed to help drivers improve their fit and comfort. While the new program isn't offered yet in Nevada, anyone can use our 12-point checklist and watch the brief instructional videos online at www.aarp.org/carfit. The tips will help you make simple adjustments and provide suggestions that will improve your safety behind the wheel.

Some of the top tips for creating a better "Carfit" are below. These also can be found in greater detail online at www.aarp.org/carfit:

• Create a clear line of sight over the steering wheel. You should be able to see at least three inches above the wheel. If you can't, you need to raise your seat, add depth to the seat or look for a new car.

• Wear your safety belt. You need a safety belt that holds you in the proper position and remains comfortable as you drive. The lower part of the belt should go across your hips, and the shoulder harness should go across the rib cage and not be under your arm.

• Position your side and rearview mirrors. Make sure that you can move your neck quickly and easily to check your mirrors and blind spots.

• Check for easy access to gas and brake pedals. Your feet should be able to reach the pedals without having to stretch too far, and you need to be able to fully depress the brake pedal to stop. You also need to be able to move your foot easily between the brake and gas pedals.

• You should have a seat that you fit in comfortably. You should be able to adjust the seat controls for good visibility and have easy access to all car controls.

• Assure that your head restraints are properly adjusted, which prevent neck injury in a crash. The center of the head restraint should be even with the back of your head at "ear" level, and as close to the back of the head as possible.

• There should be plenty of room between the center of your chest and the driver side airbag (center of steering wheel). The ideal minimum safe distance is at least 10 inches.

Our 12-point CarFit online tips may prompt you to research adaptive equipment, such as pedal extenders to help you better reach your brake and accelerator pedals, or safety belt extenders to help improve comfort while driving. AARP's Driver Safety course will refresh your driving skills, save you money on your auto insurance, and more importantly could save your life.

For more information about AARP's work in Nevada, visit us at www.aarp.org/nv or contact us at 1-866-389-5652.