The Dalton Police Department will conduct CarFit check-ups in Dalton on Friday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Dalton-Whitfield Senior Center, 302 Cappes St. next to the Dalton-Whitfield Library.
At a CarFit event, trained volunteers complete a 12-point checklist with each driver. Among the items checked are: correct position of driver’s seat; driver’s ability to easily reach pedals; and proper adjustment of mirrors.
Following the check-up, driver’s will meet with an Occupational Therapist or a Senior CarFit Technician and discuss available tools to help with the ease and comfort of operating their vehicle.
CarFit is a national program developed by AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association and is designed to give a quick, yet comprehensive check on how well an older driver and their vehicle work together.
Senior drivers can also check with their local AAA club or AARP office to take a driver safety refresher course for older road users or look into occupational therapy driving evaluation programs for individualized assessments and recommendations.
The DPD's Traffic Enforcement Unit conducted the first of these check-ups during the Downtown Memorial Day Celebration on May 26. "Seven drivers/vehicles were evaluated. Many of those evaluated raved about the usefulness of the material and inquired about the next event so that others could go through the program. We encourage any mature drivers that have questions about their driving habits and comfort in their vehicles to come to the event on August 29 and participate in the process," officials stated.