Media Advisory - Safer motoring by older drivers involves more than sticky<br>gas pedals:

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists offers solutions for safe driving

OTTAWA, Feb. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of the National Blueprint for Injury Prevention in Older Drivers (Older Drivers Blueprint), the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) will release important new resources for drivers, their families and health care professionals. A series of information brochures and a website promoting older driver safety will be unveiled at a public forum tomorrow at Ottawa's Good Companions Seniors' Centre. Seniors from across Ottawa will attend the information session to learn safety driving tips, services offered to older drivers such as refresher courses and planning for older driver retirement.

The Older Drivers Blueprint is an important and innovative initiative funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada that aims to enhance the capacity of older adults to maintain their fitness to drive and ability to drive safely for as long as possible. The Older Drivers Blueprint is used by many stakeholders and supports policy-making, education and legislation for injury prevention, enhanced health, well-being and safety amongst older drivers in Canada.

    
    WHAT:        Launch of Older Drivers Safety Resources and Public Forum
                 for Seniors

    WHEN:        Thursday, February 18, 2010
                 Media Event: 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
                 Public Forum: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

    WHERE:       Good Companions Seniors' Centre, Room 022-024, 670 Albert
                 Street, Ottawa

    WHO:         Speakers:
                 -  Older Driver Blueprint Team: Dr. Jan Polgar, Faculty of
                    Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Dr.
                    Claudia von Zweck, Executive Director, CAOT, Patricia
                    Clark, National Executive Director, Active Living
                    Coalition for Older Adults
                 -  Occupational Therapists: Dana Benoit, Isabelle Gelinas,
                    Lynn Hunt
                 -  Older Driver Safety Teacher: Bernie LaRusic, driver for
                    over 60 years and teacher for 20 years
                 -  Older Driver: Barbara Ann Pennie, driver for over
                    65 years, bilingual

    OPPORTUNITY: Older Driver Safety Teacher, Bernie LaRusic will speak about
                 the value of seniors taking driver refresher courses and
                 what is required in a driver assessment.

                 Older driver, Barbara Ann Pennie, will navigate the older
                 driver safety website via an on-site computer and speak to
                 the importance and usefulness of the site for her as an
                 older driver.
    

For further information: Karen Bennett, Senior Consultant, Delta Media, [phone], [email protected], url: www.caot.ca