Auto club to offer safety checks for senior drivers

Elderly drivers interested in increasing their safety on the road are encouraged to attend the Automobile Club of Southern California’s CarFit Program, where participants older than 65 will receive tutoring sessions.

The effort is part of a national program to improve road safety, spokeswoman Elaine Beno said. It was developed with the American Society on Aging, the AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Assn.

“When older drivers are in crashes they tend to have more injuries and fatalities because they are older,” she said. “Not because they are worse drivers, but because they are older and physically more fragile.”

A safety checkup will include a mirror and seat-belt adjustment, steering wheel positioning and a review of cars’ emergency features.

The instruction will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Oasis Senior Center, 800 Marguerite Ave., Newport Beach. Those interested can call Susie MacGregor at (949) 644-3244

— Chris Caesar