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8. MIRRORS, NECK MOBILITY AND BLIND SPOT DATE PARTICIPANT # MAKE, MODEL & YEAR Proper mirror position is important to safe driving in order to see all around the vehicle. Mobility of the head, neck and trunk enable a driver to check for blind spots on both sides of the vehicle before merging or changing lanes. Can the driver identify the volunteer’s cue using the LEFT side view mirror? Yes No     Was driver wearing seatbelt when they arrived at event? Y N NA Can the driver identify the volunteer’s cue using the RIGHT side view mirror? Yes No  Can the driver identify the volunteer’s cue using the REARVIEW mirror? Yes No  If no, review mirror control locations and offer tips for gradual adjustment of mirrors. Responses with any  circled should be brought to the attention of the occupational therapist (OT) or driving rehabilitation specialist at Is neck rotation adequate to see cue in blind spot area by looking over LEFT shoulder? Yes Yes  checkout. If an OT is not available, refer to the CarFit Local Resource Guide for information and local resources. Is neck rotation adequate to see cue in blind spot area by looking over RIGHT shoulder? Yes Yes  1. DRIVER OF VEHICLE: “Welcome to CarFit. For the next 20 minutes we look forward to reviewing your vehicle’s safety features and If no, review mirror control locations. providing education that supports your comfort and safety in your vehicle.” Remind the driver that when more than one person operates a 9. HOW MIRRORS WORK TOGETHER vehicle, seat position, tilt, and mirror positions may differ. The combination of the rearview mirror, side view mirrors and over the shoulder check offer optimal visibility of the driving environment. “To begin, may I have your permission to take a quick measurement of your current seat position?” Right: (Technician starting from 10 feet behind vehicle) Can the driver identify cue in rearview mirror then Yes No  Conduct Pre-measurement side view mirror followed by over the shoulder blind spot check, reflecting visibility that includes blind spot? A. Distance between chest and steering wheel ______inches Left: (Technician starting from 10 feet behind vehicle) Can the driver identify cue in rearview mirror then Yes No  B. Line of sight above steering wheel ______inches side view mirror followed by over the shoulder blind spot check, reflecting visibility that includes blind spot? Before we move on, do you have any specific questions of us? Yes No Optional education on the use of the blind spot and glare reduction strategy: Was Blind Spot Glare Elimination (BGE) education offered? Yes No  2. 10. OPERATION OF VEHICLE CONTROLS Wearing a seatbelt correctly reduces chance of ejection, keeps a person in place, and absorbs energy forces during a crash. Locating and operating vehicle controls is essential to safe driving. Does the driver wear the seat belt every time they drive? If no, why? Yes No Are left and right turn signals functioning? Yes No Unsure Are headlights functioning, even if lights are automatic? Yes No Unsure Is the shoulder belt positioned to cross at mid-collar bone? (Check seat belt height adjuster) Yes No  Are high beams in working order? Yes No Unsure Is the lap belt positioned low across the hips / strong pelvic bones? Yes No  Are lights in working order? Yes No Unsure Can the driver comfortably unbuckle, let belt retract, then reach and buckle the seat belt? Yes No  Can the driver identify controls for wipers? Yes No Unsure 3. STEERING WHEEL TILT Can the driver identify location of emergency/? Yes No Unsure The tilt of the steering wheel determines the angle in which the deploys. Comments describing discomfort with reach and/or operation of vehicle controls: Is the steering wheel properly tilted? (towards the driver’s chest, not face) Yes No  11. VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES AND WARNING DEVICES Can the driver adjust (tilt/telescope) the steering wheel using the release lever? Yes No N/A Awareness of your vehicle’s technologies can make driving safer. Can the driver view the and most of the instrument panel with ease? Yes No  Does vehicle have a ? Yes No Unsure 4. DISTANCE BETWEEN CHEST AND AIRBAG Does vehicle have forward collision warning? Yes No Unsure Sitting too close to the airbag can cause serious to the upper body. Does vehicle have adaptive headlights? Yes No Unsure Is the driver able to sit at least 10” away from airbag housed in steering wheel? Yes No  Does vehicle have lane departure warning? Yes No Unsure If no, can the driver adjust seat base and/or back to achieve ideal distance? Yes No N/A Does vehicle have blind spot warning? Yes No Unsure 5. LINE OF SIGHT ABOVE STEERING WHEEL Does the driver have vehicle safety technologies turned on (if applicable)? If no, why? Yes No Unsure Visibility surrounding the vehicle to front and sides is critical for safe driving. Can the driver identify and operate emergency flashers/hazard lights? Yes No  Line of sight should not be restricted by , steering wheel, or other items. Is vehicle horn in working order? Yes No  Does the driver report an unobstructed view at least 3 inches over the steering wheel? Yes No  Hand the clipboard to the driver and instruct them to proceed to the checkout station. Can the driver adjust seat base and/or back to improve line of sight, if needed? Yes No N/A 12. FINAL REVIEW AND CHECKOUT 6. HEAD RESTRAINT Ask the driver to take the following post-education measurements: The head restraint protects the driver from whiplash and other , particularly if the vehicle is rear-ended. Reinforce goal of sitting 10 inches plus away from steering wheel that houses the airbag. 10”+ Less than 10” Does the vehicle have an adjustable head restraint? Yes No Reinforce goal of unobstructed line of sight is 3 inches plus above steering wheel. 3”+ Less than 3” If yes, is the head restraint properly adjusted? Yes No  The following items may be completed by a trained Technician: 7. GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS Is the driver aware of any notable dents/scratches on the vehicle? Yes No Safe position allows the driver to fully depress brake and gas (and clutch if applicable) . Was education provided on tire tread, pressure, etc. Yes No Looking at the ahead, hands on steering wheel and without looking at feet, can the driver reach and fully Yes No  depress pedals—not reaching with toes? Was education provided on importance of clean headlights, windshield, and sensors (if applicable)? Yes No If the driver has a clutch can they completely depress and hold the clutch in? Yes No N/A To be completed at checkout ONLY when occupational therapist (OT) is present. Invite the driver to exit their vehicle and walk around the perimeter with OT by their side. Are there impediments to movement between gas and brake (shoes, floor mat, floor clutter)? Yes No  Did the driver exit and enter the vehicle with ease? Yes No Can the driver locate and operate controls to move seat forward/backward to achieve ideal distance to gas Yes No N/A or brake? Was education provided on adaptive devices that may be useful for the driver or passenger? Yes No Has the driver achieved a safe and comfortable fit to reach and operate pedals? Yes No  If yes, please describe: General Notes and Comments: 1. One or Several Drivers Figure 1: The Correct Way to Wear a Seat Belt Each person is unique and may require different settings behind the wheel (seat, steering wheel, etc.). If there is more than one driver of a vehicle, Over the shoulder (mid collarbone) and low on the hips it is important to make the changes that give you the safest fit each time you drive. For example: If the other driver is taller than you—with longer Wearing a seat belt reduces ejection, helps keep person in place legs—his or her seat adjustment will likely be much further back than yours. during a crash, and helps absorb energy forces during a crash. 2. Seat Belt (See Figure 1) The correct way to wear a safety belt: a. In addition to your vehicle’s protection, the seat belt is your first line of defense in a crash. It is the easiest, quickest and most Over the shoulder (mid collarbone) and low on the hips effective way to stay safe. b. The seat belt is intended to be used WITH the air bags for maximum safety benefit. CORRECT INCORRECT c. Your seat belt must be used on every trip, no matter the distance. In some states it is the law and failure to use your seat belt could result in a The correct way to wear a s afety belt: fine. Over the shoulder (mid collarbone) and low on the hips www.CarFit.org d. See diagram illustrating seatbelt adjustment. The seat belt should sit low on the hips and across the shoulder. The larger stronger shoulder and CORRECT INCORRECT pelvic bones are better able to withstand crash/collision forces than other areas. Seat belt placement in the mid-section (or soft tissue) of the stomach can contribute to internal injuries. Also, remember the full width of the belt is required to spread collision forces across the body. A seat belt should not be twisted, loose, under the arm or behind the back. Figure 3: Head Restraint Adjustment e. Wearing a seat belt will help prevent displacement or ejection from the vehicle during a crash. The top of the head restraint should be 3. Steering Wheel Tilt adjusted to a point slightly above your ears. a. The steering wheel, housing the air bag in its center, should be adjusted so the center is aimed toward the driver’s chest and NOT the head. If The distance from the head restraint to the sitting too close to the steering wheel, the air bag does not have the space required to deploy safely. Figure 2: Distance between Chest and Airbag back of the head should be 2½ inches or less 4. Distance Between Chest and Airbag (See Figure 2) Wearing a safety belt: Reduces ejection, helps keep person in place during a crash, and (touching the back of the head is fine). If deployed in a crash, the air bag is meant to absorb crash forces at the broadest part of the body, the upper torso/chest, (not the head). Sitting at AirWearing bags a supplementsafety belt: Reduces the safety ejection, belt helps by reducingkeep person the in placechance during that a crash, the occu and - helps absorb energy forces during a crash. least 10 inches away from the steering wheel offers a safe distance should your air bag need to deploy. pant’shelps absorb head energy and upper forces bodyduring willa crash strike. some part of the interior. 5. Line of Sight Above Steering Wheel They also help reduce the of serious injury by distributing crash forces a. Clear line of sight is essential to finding your safest fit. Your line of sight must be above the steering wheel and dashboard, allowing an unob- Air bags supplementmoreAir bags evenly supplement the acrosssafe thety the beltsafe occupant’sty by belt reducing by reducing body. the the chance chance that that the the occupant's occupant's head and head and upper body willupper strike body willsome strike part some of part the of vehicle's the vehicle's inter interior.ior. They also also help help reduce reduce the risk the of risk of structed view of the environment to the front and to the sides of the vehicle. Remember to ensure clear sight of the speedometer too. serious injury by distributing crash forces more evenly across the occupant's body. b. As we age, seated height commonly diminishes. This can occur slowly over time and changes often go undetected. Periodically measure yourserious injury by distributing crash forces more evenly across the occupant's body. Minimum of line of sight to ensure an unobstructed view of 3 inches or more above adjusted steering wheel. 10 inches c. Always use the adjustment features built into your vehicle to achieve your safest fit. These features may allow you to adjust the seat base and/ or seat back to improve line of sight. Only add devices such as a wedge cushion when absolutely necessary to achieve the height to see the road. There are associated with using an aftermarket device such as a cushion, and it may be wise to consult with a professional to fully understand your options. 6. Head Restraint (See Figure 3) a. The head restraint is a safety device used to prevent whiplash and resulting neck injuries. The top of the head restraint should be adjusted to a point slightly above your ears. It is in the correct position when it is within 2 ½ inches or closer (touching the back of the head is fine) from the center back area of your head. 7. Gas and Brake Pedals FigureHead Restraint 4: How AdjustmentMirrors Work: Together Figure 5: Cleaning Vehicle Sensors a. Reaching with the toes to press the brake is unsafe, fatiguing and can be a cause for leg and low back pain. Adjust the seat so the brake is com- The combination of the rearview mirror, side Obscured or dirty sensors can affect the performance of safety features. fortably fully depressed with the ball of the foot view mirror, and over the shoulder checkThe offer height of theIt’s headrest important should to be keep mid-ear vehicle sensors clean for optimal safety. b. It is important to be able to move your foot from the gas to the brake in a quick fashion, without having to look at the pedals. Practicing this or higher. movement while the vehicle transmission is in PARK can offer a helpful “refresher” before heading out, particularly if driving an unfamiliar vehiHead- Restraintoptimal visibilityAdjustment of the driving: environment. cle. The distance from the headrest to the back Views from properly adjusted mirrors:of the head should be 2 ½ inches or less 8. Mirrors, Neck Mobility, and Blind Spot The height of the headrest should be mid-ear a. Mirror adjustments can be intimidating. Proper use of adjusted mirrors will help reduce blind spots and make merging into and changing (touching the back of the head is fine). or higher. lanes easier and safer. Make small incremental changes to your mirror settings and allow yourself the opportunity to become familiar with any changes. Please review the detailed suggestions included in the CarFit brochure, available for review at www.-Fit.org. b. As we age, the flexibility in our neck may change. Neck mobility is important for the visual check before backing up or changing lanes. If neck The distance from the headrest to the back

mobility is painful it may be wise to seek advice from your physician. of the head should be 2 ½ inches or less c. In modern vehicles, the A-pillars, located on either side of the windshield, have grown wider and may reduce visibility. Being aware of this poten- (touching the back of the head is fine). tial problem can also lead to a solution. Moving your head or shifting your position in the vehicle when looking for pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles may help alleviate this concern. 9. How Mirrors Work Together (See Figure 4) The combination of the rearview mirror, side view mirror, and over the shoulder check offer optimal visibility of the driving environment. 10. Operation of Vehicle Controls It is important that drivers can easily operate headlights, high beams, turn signals, and windshield wipers. You should also be able to turn the ignition key to start your vehicle without any difficulty. Sometimes conditions such as arthritis may prevent us from being able to perform this task without pain. If you are having trouble, there are adaptive devices that can aid you. An occupational therapist can offer more information. 11. Vehicle Technology and Warning Devices a. Many on the road today have safety features that can help drivers stay safer when the technology is enabled. It is important to familiarize yourself with all of your vehicle’s driver assistance technology. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to best understand how your car works. b. It is important that drivers can easily operate emergency flashers or hazard lights. Emergency flashers should be used if you pull to the side of the road, break down (e.g., flat tire, stalled, dead battery, or out of fuel), or if stopped by law enforcement or in a crash. Emergency flashers should not be used when vehicle is in motion. 12. Vehicle Walk-around (See Figure 5) The vehicle walk-around reinforces the importance of taking the time to observe the outside of your vehicle noticing any dents, dings, or scrapes, maintaining proper tire pressure, and ensuring clean headlights, windows, and sensors for good visibility.

Top copy to participant; Copy 2: Event Coordinator should retain for time specified by organization D18576 (11/19)