This afternoon - an 86 year old man in California - Russell Weller - lost control of his car - smashed through the Santa Monica
Farmers' Market - striking more than 50 people - killing 10 including a 7 1/2-month-old boy. Witnesses said Weller's car sped down
the entire length of the open-air market, knocking down stalls, scattering produce and hitting people.
I have long took a stand that people over a certain age - with limited vision and co-ordination - should not be allowed to drive.
In the days I used to visit family in Florida - Miami Beach - seniors often stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake - or signaled
for a left turn and then moved right, etc. causing great damage to people and things.
I stand firmly that after 65 people should take a visual and road test every year - showing medical records that might indicate
senility - Altzheimers - etc.
I know it would be a blow to the ego if they were found unqualified to drive anymore. But this would result in safer driving
measures.
It would seem that new drivers in the teenage years and senior drivers - often have poor judgement - need to learn defensive
driving - and have a very high risk of having an accident.
I also have experienced bad driving with foreigners and certain ethnic groups.
Awareness in driving should be 360 degrees all the time.
People's minds drift while driving - causing loss of focus.
As you may recall - this April I watched an 85 year old man drive his car into the side of someone's house - near my daughter's
home in NJ. He was lucky there was no one in the Cul de Sac at the time he lost control of his vehicle. It is usually a play area for
children.
Driving is part of the human experience for most people. Know your abilities and limitations or you will become a liabiity.
Click To Read about How Old is Too Old to be Behind The Wheel?