Acorn Acres in Red Oak will be the site for a free, interactive and educational program one-week from today, designed to improve older driver safety. Red Oak Police Certified Reserve Officer Brad Baker told KJAN News the program is provided by the Iowa DOT, in associations with the Red Oak Police Department, Southwestern Community College, Acorn Acres, the Red Oak Rotary Club, AARP and AAA (Triple A).

Baker said the program on Oct. 30th is called “CarFit.” Trained volunteers will provide information to ensure the safest “fit” for older drivers and their vehicles. He says the volunteers offer a 12-point inspection, where a senior driver can pull-in and get a car safety check-up as well as ideas on how to drive safely and comfortably through the use of adaptive equipment, if necessary. The equipment may include assistance with a seat belt puller/extenders, better mobility with keys, a swivel seat device, pedal extenders, and more. It’s all designed to make senior drivers safer. The equipment, and the check-up, will help to lower insurance rates with some companies. Some seniors are noticeably too close to their steering wheel, for various reasons.  Being that close to your airbag can result in severe injuries. Baker says with airbag deployment, there should be a 10-inch gap between the driver and steering wheel.

The event begins at 9-a.m. Oct. 30^th, with a Distracted Driving Program set-up by Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy, Brad Baker, and Katie Lewis with Southwestern Community College. It features a 10-to 12-minute video with a local woman who lost her two young sons in a distracted driving accident. Nina Todd was returning to her home near Cumberland after a Thanksgiving Holiday visit in Shenandoah, when her car was struck head-on by an 18-year old woman who was speeding and texting as her vehicle came over a hill near Red Oak. The accident happened Nov. 28^th, 2010.

The program is geared to all ages. Coffee and rolls will be available in the Acorn Acres meeting room, before the Car Safety check-up is performed in the north drive of the facility. Baker says they are taking appointments for the 10-to 20-minute inspections/safety checks, but no one will be turned away if you just stop by from 10-a.m. Until Noon on Oct. 30^th. If you’d like to make a reservation for the CarFit event, call Brad Baker through Montgomery County Communications at 712-623-6500.

Baker says you won’t be cited if you have defective vehicle equipment or violations. The program is simply meant to provide safe solutions to issues affecting drivers, especially those who are older.