Who: Steve Mazor, Chief Automotive Engineer, Automobile Club of Southern California and seniors from the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica.
What: May is Older Americans Month and the Auto Club is committed to keeping older drivers safe on the road by increasing awareness of key auto features on new cars, such as backing aids, adaptive cruise control, auto dimming rear and side view mirrors, improved headlights, systems to ease entry/exit from the vehicle, navigation and lane departure warning systems, adjustable pedal clusters and innovative dash displays. Steve Mazor, manager of the Auto Club's Automotive Research Center, will discuss vehicle safety features for senior drivers. Reporters will have demonstration of new vehicles with "senior-friendly safety features" and opportunity to drive cars to test features. Seniors from CHA can talk about how these features can make driving simpler for them.
When: 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 22.
Where: Parking Lot #4 - Behind Auto Club HQ, 2601 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles 90007-3254. Enter parking lot off of Figueroa Street at W. 27th Street.
Why: More than 28 million drivers 65 and older are on the roads today and more than 191,000 were injured in crashes in 2005, according to statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. By 2020, with baby boomers' retiring, there will be more than 40 million senior drivers in the U.S. Senior citizens are some of the safest drivers on the road. But after age 70, there is a slight upturn in crash rates. New added safety features can help some older drivers continue driving safely longer.
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