Elderly Driver Plows Into Pedestrians, Injuring 27 (Connecticut)

NBC30.com (WVIT) ^ | UPDATED: 12:09 am EDT July 9, 2006 | WVIT Channel 30

[nutmeg]

Connecticut ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[The South Texan]

I might get slammed for this, but I don't think people over 85 should be driving on the roads nowadays. Too many wacko drivers out there that treat even neighborhood streets as a NASCAR track. To top it off you have a never ending supply of women driving SUV's while yakking away on cell phones probably gossiping with other women on cell phones driving SUV's too. Put those two together with some senior citizen that can barely look over a steering wheel and probably has artificial knees or a hip replacement and it's a disaster waiting to happen.

BTW, yesterday I was on a main thoroughfare in my town and some older lady stopped traffic in the middle of the road to ask a construction worker who was setting up cones around a manhole for directions. Just a related note.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I would peg it at 80. The odds of a fatal seisure alone at that age is very high.

[TaMoDee]

Don't agree on an age limit. An "Ability-to-Drive" test
is more appropiate. I have a neighbor who is 80. She took me to PU my car that was being serviced. I had no problem
with her driving.
You too will age. Remember what you posted here.

[Alberta's Child]

If nothing else, drivers should be re-tested on a regular basis once they reach the age of 60.

I don't think it's a coincidence that a disproportionate number of these "the accelerator pedal got stuck" accidents involve elderly drivers.

[BunnySlippers]

I'm not going to slam you. But I don't think there should be a cut off at a certain age ... some people are fully functional at 85. There should be mandatory testing after a certain age.

[KantianBurke]

An "Ability-to-Drive" test is more appropiate.

Though I don't have a link handy I can remember coming across a post about how the elderly in one town refused to take even THAT sort of step. No offense but the elderly seem to be quite insensitive to the concerns of others when it comes driving safety.

[TaMoDee]

BS

[skip_intro]

Why is it that gas pedals only stick open in old peoples cars?

[RobRoy]

>>Laine told witnesses the gas pedal stuck.<<

To his foot.

[RobRoy]

I simple test is sufficient.

Age discrimination, you know.

[KantianBurke]

I admitted I couldn't remember / find the thread. - shrugs -Take it with a grain of salt if you want. What motive could I have for lying on an annoymous chat site??

[RobRoy]

>>No offense but the elderly seem to be quite insensitive to the concerns of others when it comes driving safety.<<

What do you mean by "the" elderly?

Which ones.

[Buddy B]

"when a station wagon plowed through a crowd of people"

Do they still make station wagons?

Wonder how old the vehicle was...

[Old Professer]

Another reason to avoid parades of any sort; I old that boy to quit driving ten years ago but them kids just won't listen.

[jneesy]

>>>Why is it that gas pedals only stick open in old peoples cars?<<<

because they they sieze....hehe

[Old Professer]

You're a tad late but welcome to the show; sometimes these things go on for days.

Most of the time we celebrate superannuation as an heroic feat except for those few times when the codger emulates the artful dodger and the we all scream for grandpa's head.

When will they ever learn to just move over and make room?

[OmahaFields]

"I would peg it at 80. The odds of a fatal seisure alone at that age is very high."

My mother is 84. Has had ZERO accidents and ZERO tickets. Can you say that?

[goldstategop]

Reminds me of the coot who plowed through a Santa Monica crowd a few years back. Some old timers lose their marbles while behind the wheel and tragedy strikes.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)