Can’t wait to see how this thread evolves ... me, I’m all for removing geezer access to the keys once they demonstrate that they can’t see over the dashboard.
Assuming the other driver would stop at the sign, she began to drive through the intersection when she felt a hard crash
Mistake #1 Never Assume the other driver will stop.
Is enough being done to protect motorists from teenagers and anyone using cell phones, eating or doing one's hair, who shouldn't be driving? When is it time to take the keys away?
OTOH, when do we begin to use our brains?
I’m more concerned with braindead mushheads like Jack Murtha, Teddy Kennedy, and Robert Byrd dictating our legislation when they (A) don’t even comprehend what they are voting on and (B) they won’t be alive long enough to have to live under it.
What demographic has the highest death rate in motor vehicle crashes. My 21 year old grandson has already lost 3 of his HS classmates to auto crashes and every one involved speeding...
It’s a skills issue and faculties issue. Apply the same rules you would for your licensed physician, dentist, etc. and the answer is clear. If you don’t have what it takes you shouldn’t be licensed, that is the PURPOSE of licensing, a demonstration of competency for a task.
As an elderly man was driving down the freeway, his cell phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on Route 280. Please be careful!”
“It’s not just one car,” said Herman, “I’m on Route 280 and there’s hundreds of them!”
I think all drivers should probably be retested on a regular basis, maybe when their driver’s license comes up for renewal every 5 years or whatever. For drivers over a certain age, maybe license renewals and retests should come more often. There are elderly drivers on the road who just haven’t got what it takes to drive safely any more - but they’re hardly the only ones. Lot’s of younger licensed drivers never really had what it took in the first place.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. I’ve been a long time advocate of check rides for everyone, not matter what age, every few years. I know plenty of people in their 30’s that can’t drive for crap.
Several years ago, I was in a shoe store with my kids. I had a ‘great’ parking space near the store...right up front. We heard a huge crash. My SUV got t-boned by an elderly man. I had been getting my youngest out of his carseat...on the passenger side (that got hit) moments before.
The man was somewhat angry at the scene (somehow it wasn’t his fault in his mind that he hit a parked vehicle). To my knowledge he was never sited by the police (my vehicle had to be towed) and the man’s son refused to turn the accident into insurance. They paid, out of pocket, for my rental, bodywork, repainting the vehicle. Only reason why, so dad wouldn’t lose his license. I wanted to pursue it (imo, the father should not have been drving, but my hands were tied).
I do no know at what age the keys should be taken away from a driver, but let’s have an agreement , that whatever age that is should also be the retirement age for politicians and Supreme Court Justices who are helping cause the train wrecks in our government.
We certainly do not need Congressmen and Senators who have to die in Congress.
I know a few 30 somethings who should not be driving.
How about those women who think applying makeup while at speed on a highway is ok?
Nonsense. My father is 72. Just passed his DL renewal, including having to retake the driving test. Did just fine. He stays off the freeways by his choice, uses a Garmin, I've ridden with him, no problem. I'd bet money that reader is under 25.
A 56 year-old man drove his truck into a man’s living room. Men who are 56 shouldn’t be allowed to drive.
A cop shot himself in the foot with his unloaded pistol. Cops should not be allowed to carry guns.
A woman found her infant had drowned in the bathtub when she answered the phone in the kitchen. Women should not be allowed to bathe infants, and it should be illegal to call women when they’re washing up the kid.
Law by anecdote is grand. John Jay would be impressed.
And another thing ... those of you who have admitted on this thread that you KNOW your family member ought not be driving, but you haven’t taken the keys away yet?
Shame on you.
Yes, I know it’s damn hard. Yes, I know it sucks and you will have family drama and extra drains on your time and energy.
And as soon as your geezer relative kills someone, you will spend the rest of your life wishing you’d done the right thing.