Car plows into market, kills 9

[Skins57]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/07/16/farmers.market.crash/index.html

nine dead, including a 3 year old girl and more than 54 hurt, becuase the 86 year old man thought he hit the brake instead he hit the gas

[BigCountry]

That happened about a first down or less from the movie theater I work at. That 3 year old belonged to one of the guys who worked with me and he was working at the time of accident. He didn't know his daughter and wife were there and rushed out the moment he heard the accident.

[TexSkin]

Oh man this is terrible...I can't even imagine :(

[Skins57]

I would hope this man never gets to drive again. This supports my feeling that after 65, people should be tested every year or two

[jsarno]

Originally posted by Skins57
I would hope this man never gets to drive again. This supports my feeling that after 65, people should be tested every year or two

I completely agree...not only should they have eye tests EVERY year, but complete driving tests every year.

Driving should be a "privelage" not a right.

I also think we all need stiffer penalties for drunk drivers as well...and make it harder to get a drivers license than it is today. Any moron can get one now a days no matter if you're a good driver or not.

[Skins57]

I heard yesterday, the death toll is now 10 as a 3 month old died

just horrible

[jsarno]

Originally posted by Skins57
I heard yesterday, the death toll is now 10 as a 3 month old died

just horrible

It is me, or do the rest of you find it shocking that 10 people could die from an old guy hitting the wrong pedal??? Just doesn't seem possible.

[TexSkin]

I knew after the second I heard this news that people were going to start looking inot elderly drivers. Whats the stats on them, I have no idea but I was always brought up to respect my elders. I would like to see some stats shoing that the elderly are dangerous behind the will before I start grouping them all rom this one horrible incident.

p.s. I I just realized how my post can be seen as directed at some of the other post on here. Trust me, they are not I am just speaking from the mind not any reply. ;)

[jsarno]

Originally posted by TexSkin
I knew after the second I heard this news that people were going to start looking inot elderly drivers. Whats the stats on them, I have no idea but I was always brought up to respect my elders. I would like to see some stats shoing that the elderly are dangerous behind the will before I start grouping them all rom this one horrible incident.

p.s. I I just realized how my post can be seen as directed at some of the other post on here. Trust me, they are not I am just speaking from the mind not any reply. ;)

The elderly accident rate is very high! The only ones higher are the teenagers.
here's a comment by a site: (link afterwards)
The travelled fatality rate is highest for drivers over the age of 75.
The travelled casualty rate is highest for 18 to 24 year old drivers. Drivers over the age of 75 take second place.

http://www.swov.nl/en/actueel/swovschrift/ra/elderly_drivers_a_preliminary_study.htm

I understand the "respect your elders" comments. I fully agree. But when it comes to accidents, and even flatulance, it's not disrespect as much as it is a fact of life.

(notice my comments focused on the elderly as well as the young in my previous posts)

[Skins57]

I agree wuth the respect your elders but when it comes to preventable fatal accidents, I think it is something that should be looked at very closely

[CarMike]

Respecting elders has nothing to do with how they drive. They're a menace.

The difference with elders is that their reaction time is very slow. I know that I've accidently hit the gas peddle instead of the brake. (while using cruise control) As soon as I hit the gas peddle, I was off of it and on the brake. Thats the difference. This old guy didn't realize he was giving gas quick enough to save 10 people lives and countless of other people from getting hurt.

If I had my way, after the age of 65, elders should have to take a driving test and some kind of reaction test. I feel bad for saying that because one day, hopefully, I'll be an elder and will want the right to drive. But, if I'm a menace on the road then I shouldn't be allowed to drive.

But that opens up a whole different can worms. How do they get around if you take away their license? It'll be a tough decision....

[Skins57]

I agree Mike, it will be a damned if you do and Damned if you don't. The first thing people like me ( who support this idea) will notice is all of a sudden we will be running our parents and relatives to the doctors and store, which is fine but some of us barely have time for our families now, so what do you do?