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October 23, 2005
Geriatric Mayhem on Wheels
Do we let 12-year-olds drive? Of course not; it would be highly dangerous both for the driver and for everyone else on the road. 93-year-olds, on the other hand...
From the Daytona Beach News-Journal, on a tip from Wiggins:
ST. PETERSBURG — A 93-year-old driver apparently suffering from dementia fatally struck a pedestrian, then continued driving through a toll booth with the man's body on his windshield, police said.
Ralph Parker of Pinellas Park drove for 3 miles Wednesday night after striking the 52-year-old pedestrian with his gold 2002 Chevrolet Malibu, severing the man's right leg, police said.
A toll taker on the Sunshine Skyway saw the body stuck through Parker's windshield and notified police, Traffic Homicide Investigator Michael Jockers said.
There probably won't be any charges filed, because Parker is too demented to be held responsible for his behavior — though not too demented to be allowed to drive a car.
"He may have somewhere in his mind have realized it was a crash, but immediately forgot about it," Jockers said.
Clinton might have tried that defense if his rape of Juanita Broderick had ever gone to trial.
The good news is they might finally stop renewing Parker's license.
Posted by Van Helsing at October 23, 2005 4:55 PM
Comments
That goes along with the bus crash in Wisconsin last weekend, the driver was 78, and still driving tour buses? We make pilots retire at 60!
Posted by: Crazy Politico at October 23, 2005 9:22 PM
Its not all as simple as that. Taking away one's driver's license is in effect, taking away the freedom of movement we take for granted, and indeed, what we must have to shop, for doctor's appts., visit family.
An while I would agree ANY person mentally/physically unfit to operate a motor vehicle should not be allowed on the road, take away the license for and edlerly person, and who is going to take them to shop for groceries, visit friends, do banking? Not likely their children, as they may not live near enough to their parents.
Posted by: ex-expat at October 24, 2005 8:14 AM
There's a solution for that. It's called "assisted living".
When you consider what the medical care for a single accident victim costs, yanking the licenses (and vehicles) of senile drivers and placing them in assisted living might be cheap.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet at October 24, 2005 11:12 AM
Yes, that is the solution, but when it comes down to someone close to you, senile or not, the choice to have the driving privileges of one close to you taken away and put them is assisted living, is not as clean cut it would be made out to be.
Posted by: ex-expat at October 24, 2005 12:51 PM
I live close to St. Pete, and the bus service in this area is dreadful. Additionally, it is one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians and bicyclists. All people drive to kill here (not just the 93-year olds!).
When a person can no longer drive, their options are very limited as far as shopping, doctor appointments, socializing, etc. It's not like the big cities "up north" where public transportation is accessible and frequent.
Addtionally, we in this area visited this issue a few years ago when a CA senior plowed into a market, killing shoppers and bystanders. The senior lobby here (plentiful and powerful) immediately squashed any attempts for re-testing to qualify for driver's license renewal.
Posted by: junebee at October 24, 2005 2:24 PM
