Free CarFit events for seniors

GOSHEN — There will be three free CarFit events in the month of August for senior citizens in Orange County.

What is CarFit? It is a free, interactive and educational program designed to improve older driver safety. Trained volunteers provide information to ensure the safest “fit” for older drivers to their vehicles.

The Car Fit program will be offered on the following Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at each location:

Aug. 9 - Water’s Edge, 208 East Main St. in Port Jervis.

Aug. 23 - SUNY Orange’s Middletown campus, at 115 South St. in Middletown.

Aug. 30 - New Windsor Senior Housing, 2115 Senior Court in New Windsor.

According to the CarFit Web site, the program provides information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance seniors' safety as drivers. Older drivers are often the safest drivers since they are most likely to wear their seat belts and less likely to speed or drink and drive. Older drivers can improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them. The CarFit technicians work with each participant to ensure they fit their vehicle properly for both comfort and safety.

“People are living longer and driving is such a large part of holding onto our independence," said Ann Marie Maglione, director of Orange County office for the Aging, which is sponsoring the event. "The mission of our office is to support independence for older adults and Car Fit is the perfect way to do that. I have taken this training myself and can validate the value of Car Fit.”

For more information or to make an appointment, call Helen Spann at 845-341-3490. Each session takes about 20 minutes and participants need to bring the vehicle they normally drive.

For more information about CarFit, go to Car-Fit.org