+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! (/showthread.php?tid=160321)
Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - mrbigstuff - 11-13-2013
Or, into your office, anyway.
The woman told witnesses she was trying to stop.
“She said she thought she was stepping on the brake but it didn't work. I never saw the brake lights on,” Gerben Swart said.
The woman had just pulled into the Post Office when she started accelerating.
“She was airborne a couple of times when she went over the medians, e realized she had lost control of her vehicle,” Swart said.
Read more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/north/10012198928838/driver-crashes-into-business-in-peabody/#ixzz2kUwyFlKb
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - C(-)ris - 11-13-2013
They really need to require mental and physical tests for driving annually after 65, same as they do when you first get your license.
The problem is, once you are that old, you can never get better at driving, only considerably worse. At least teenagers are learning and (hopefully) on their way to becoming better drivers. Seniors driving are just on their way to eventually having a horrible accident.
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - OWC Jamie - 11-13-2013
C(-)ris wrote:
They really need to require mental and physical tests for driving annually after 65, same as they do when you first get your license.
The problem is, once you are that old, you can never get better at driving, only considerably worse. At least teenagers are learning and (hopefully) on their way to becoming better drivers. Seniors driving are just on their way to eventually having a horrible accident.
Problem with that is that the second largest group of people who press on the wrong pedal are under 20.
2/3 in both groups are women
and the one commonality to all three is automatic transmissions
I really doubt there are any conclusive tests for future temporary neuropathy paralysis
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - RgrF - 11-13-2013
"Employees say the woman who worked in the office where the woman’s car was stopped had just left the company, so no one was inside the room."
Retiring on her own terms.
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - Ombligo - 11-13-2013
Years ago (~1988) I covered an accident in Largo, FL where an older gentleman had just completed and passed his driving license renewal. Immediately after passing and getting his new license, he crashed his car through the front wall of the Driver's License Office.
I never understand how these people get the acceleration to jump a curb. This must be stomping the gas? I ease out and start slowly. Getting over a curb requires a bit of power generally as the vehicle has no momentum built up.
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - riley5108 - 11-13-2013
C(-)ris wrote:
They really need to require mental and physical tests for driving annually after 65, same as they do when you first get your license.
There is no magic age number! An annual mental and physical test at age 65 and older would bring the DMV to its knees. Wait until you turn 65 and you'll understand...there I feel better.:oldfogette:
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - mrlynn - 11-13-2013
The convenience stores (and others in strip malls/shopping centers) are installing hefty yellow posts in front of the parking spaces. Too many seniors crashing through store windows.
Driving tests for old folks would be a huge inconvenience (and taxpayer expense), but I support them. Proposals fail in the legislatures because the old folks vote.
My wife (a physician) complains that she can't report someone as unfit to drive because of patient privacy rules, even though that person may be a menace to himself and others. She says physicians should be exempted as mandatory reporters, as they are for child abuse.
/Mr Lynn
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - Lemon Drop - 11-13-2013
"Florida also allows confidential reporting of a possibly unsafe driver by anyone – doctor, law enforcement, relative or bystander. Officials may ask those drivers to submit medical reports from their doctor or to undergo testing at a driver license office."
http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2012/09/19/213818.htm
(you can look up your state's rules on this issue, a few states have good rules but most are painfully slack about this)
Drivers over 80 are the second highest age group likely to cause fatal accidents, after teenagers.
But like teens, family members are primarily responsible for keeping seniors safe as drivers.
I think too many of us are failing our older relatives in this regard.
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - ka jowct - 11-13-2013
Seniors living in areas with decent mass transit are better off in this regard. Even if you wouldn't be safe to drive a car, you can still get around where I live.
Re: Hey! Grandma's driving to your office! - Lemon Drop - 11-13-2013
ka jowct wrote:
Seniors living in areas with decent mass transit are better off in this regard. Even if you wouldn't be safe to drive a car, you can still get around where I live.
great point
definitely something to consider in retirement
and another very good reason to support better public transportation
we will all be there someday, luck willing...