Motorists of all ages will be able to benefit from a free Safe Driving Day event at the newest Columbia AAA branch office in Sandhills.

The Friday, March 16, event will include CarFit checks for seniors, child passenger seat checks for children and free vehicle checks for all those old enough to drive.
Those seeking CarFit or child seat checks should call 803-727-1520 to make an appointment to attend between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The office is at 130 Forum Drive, Suite 13 in the Village at Sandhills Shopping Center.
Senior Drivers
CarFit is a new program designed to give motorists a quick but comprehensive check of how well they and their vehicle work together. Trained professionals ask simple questions and complete a 12-point CarFit checklist with participants about their vehicle. The process takes about 15 minutes.

Drivers over age 65 are almost twice (1.78 times) as likely to die in car crashes as drivers ages 55 to 64, according to a 2004 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study.

Child Passenger Seats
In addition to a CarFit check for seniors, AAA staff also will be on hand to inspect child passenger safety seats and the vehicle itself for free.

Recent surveys have shown many parents don’t know how to used the LATCH system mandated in all vehicles since 2002. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children that lock a child’s safety seat in place more firmly than seat belts.

South Carolina law requires children 5 years old and younger and weighing up to 80 pounds to be in some type of child restraint when riding in a car. Children between 20 pounds and 39 pounds need to be in a forward-facing child restraint with a three- or five-point harness. Children weighing between 40 pounds and 80 pounds need to be in a booster seat.

Vehicle Safety Check
Appointments are not needed for the vehicle safety check, which will include looking at a vehicle’s tires, windshield wipers, lights, belts, hoses, air filter and battery and giving the driver a written summary.