Questions Surround Deadly Santa Monica Car Accident

Fox News ^ | 7/17/03 | Not Shown

[Pest]

SANTA MONICA, Calif.

[Guillermo]

Jeez, what a tragedy.

Life simply is not fair.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Vehicular manslaughter. Sad.

[Support Free Republic]

Hi Mom!

[prairiebreeze]

and whether the driver was competent to be behind the wheel in the first place.

A bit late for that, eh? Actually this is an issue which gets little attention. Elderly drivers, safety concerns, insurance implications and the AARP and senior-rights lobbies all have sides to this issue. Darned shame it happened and prayers to the victims and their families. To the driver and his family too.

Prairie

[wideawake]

A crowd gathered around the car and "wanted to beat him up," Manahedgi said. "I said, 'He's an old man, leave him alone."'

If it weren't for Mr. Manahedgi, I'm short they would have made short work of the killer.

[hang 'em]

I think you mean prayers for the victims

[wysiwyg]

This is the worst I've heard of, but something like this seems to happen pretty frequently. Just a few weeks ago, an elderly woman in Houston hit the gas instead of the brake and sent her car through the front of a sandwich shop. Nobody was killed, but there were some serious injuries. And in South Florida, it seems that oldsters are always mowing someone down.

I think that, with the population getting older and living longer, it is about time to change the rules for getting and keeping a driver's license. Maybe they should require a road test every other renewal or something.

[mass55th]

"Actually this is an issue which gets little attention. Elderly drivers, safety concerns, insurance implications and the AARP and senior-rights lobbies all have sides to this issue."

There are also problems with elderly folk who simply refuse to stop driving even after they've lost their licenses or been told not to drive. I had an elderly woman hit me head on several years ago. She was driving on a learner's permit without a licensed driver in the car with her. I'm almost 56, and I hope I don't become that ignorant of the laws when I'm that age.

[Pest]

I would be willing to submit to a road test more frequently. Heck, it's not only older people that need to be checked. There are plenty of people out there who shouldn't be behind the wheel.

[wysiwyg]

There are plenty of people out there who shouldn't be behind the wheel.

I know that's right.

[alisasny]

Well, convicted drunk drivers still drive with or without licenses and continue to get DWI's. I really dont see how keeping elders off the road can be enforced unless of course an accident like this happens. Clearly the driver wont be driving ever again.

[Think free or die]

Part of the difficulty is that many communities have few alternatives for those who don't drive. With people living in suburbs, there may or may not be sidewalks, let alone public transportation. This makes it doubly difficult for older people to give up driving their own cars. Unfortunately, these accidents are far too frequent, and with the population aging, we're likely to see more of the same.

[wysiwyg]

True, but drunk drivers are thumbing their noses at the law anyway. I think that, for most (law-abiding) people, if the state revoked their license, they would comply.

[wysiwyg]

Sad, but this incident reminds me of a bumper sticker I once saw. "If you don't like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk."

[OregonRancher]

Well, just because you can still have sex after fifty years doesn't mean you'er any good at it.....

[Pest]

I really dont see how keeping elders off the road can be enforced unless of course an accident like this happens.

I think most people do obey the law. Therefore, I think more rigorous testing for everyone (including road tests, medical review, etc.) would go a long way in preventing these types of accidents. Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right.

[cinFLA]

I agree there is a problem with some elderly drivers however elderly drivers as a whole have a safety record more than twice as good as those under 25.

My mother is 80 and a very careful driver. Plans her route carefully and avoids high traffic times. Almost never drives at night and never speeds.

Compare that to the 24 year old out late on a Friday night with a bunch of his partying friends in the car.

The 24 yo may do better on a test but which would you rather insure?

[B-Chan]

The 24 yo may do better on a test but which would you rather insure?

The younger.

[prairiebreeze]

Kudos to your mom. But my 90 year old frail neighbor scares the bejeeminies out of me when he gets in his car.

You mom generally has more experience and better judgement than the 24 year olds (at least some of them). But the 24 year olds typically have better reflexes and vision. And being out "partying" raises substance-use issues which is another subject itself.

My point is, that with the boomers getting older, this issue may become more publicized than it currently is. Or not, depending on lobbying efforts.

Prairie