Just have to vent about this - Page 2

CFD · 08-06-2014, 09:34 PM

It's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed. You're always hearing of incidents where people hit the gas instead of the brakes and end up crashing into buildings etc. most if not all of the time it's an elderly person. We would all like to think that we will maintain our reflexes, vision, hearing etc and be able to drive for the rest of our lives but the fact is it's not always the case. My life has revolved around cars and bikes, both on the street and the track and I would be quite bummed in the event I was told I was not fit to drive but I would be devastated if I hurt or killed someone because I wasn't told to stop or didn't listen.

CruisingSpeed · 08-06-2014, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFD

It's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed. You're always hearing of incidents where people hit the gas instead of the brakes and end up crashing into buildings etc. most if not all of the time it's an elderly person. We would all like to think that we will maintain our reflexes, vision, hearing etc and be able to drive for the rest of our lives but the fact is it's not always the case. My life has revolved around cars and bikes, both on the street and the track and I would be quite bummed in the event I was told I was not fit to drive but I would be devastated if I hurt or killed someone because I wasn't told to stop or didn't listen.

True, but I doubt at 80 people would care less about 500hp or exhaust sounds. They will just make your hearing aids hurt.

mpiersd · 08-07-2014, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFD

Understand that I have no disrespect for the elderly but things like this bother me greatly. Also understand that I am 59 yrs old so when I say elderly I mean elderly in comparison to me.

Any how, I'm not in the greatest mood as I sit in my local DD parking lot in a Ford Fiesta, why you ask, because last week some dick head side swiped my Camaro while it was parked. So as I'm trying to enjoy a morning cup of caffeine I hear horns blowing left and right so I turn to see a car entering the parking lot extremely slow and on the wrong side of the entrance. The car proceeds to the parking area and parks as seen in the attached photo. I'm in disbelief as the car has more dings and dents than you can count. The passenger gets out, an elderly lady, walking with some sort of walker proceeds to the drivers side and helps what may have been her mother out of the drivers seat. This woman could hardly walk never mind drive.

As we all know to well, the general population doesn't drive very well but this is unbelievable, if I had the authority to revoke licenses I would have done it on the spot. It may sound cruel but my biggest fear is that my son, who has only been driving for about a year or a family member gets in an accident because of drivers like this. If it was my mom, I would not let her drive period.

The next thing I noticed while there was the reaction of others, who had not seen the driver, to the way the car was parked. People who take up more than one spot, never mind 4 in the middle of a small lot, beware, others do not appreciate it at all.

Meh, looks like a normal day in Virginia. Except the driver could be anybody, not just an elderly person.

1olddude · 08-07-2014, 11:38 AM

Maybe her knee hit the key fob and that's where the car came to a stop.

*SSE 4 2SS* · 08-07-2014, 12:11 PM

I lived in a Texas Hill country town well known as a retirement community. I was a FF/Paramedic.

The local grocery store parking lot was fairly good sized and pretty well laid out.

There was plenty of distance to back out of the angled slots for most people. The elderly though, I'm sorry to say, it was a severe challenge for them. Limited neck mobility, and very limited vision.

We called it the bump and go clause.... They would get in the car, put it in reverse, and back straight until they hit something, throw it in drive, turn the wheel and drive away.... So many people I knew would bitch about the pretty substantial dents in their bumpers and quarter panels.

Unfortunately it wasn't always cars they hit... I made a couple of calls for motor vehicle vs pedestrian in the same parking lot... It was an elderly person getting hit by and elderly person as well....

But all in all, the worst call I remember making due to elderly drivers was a guy in a flat bed truck, turning into a BBQ parking lot early one morning as he had done for over 50 years.... He ran the place.... well he turned in front of another car one am and the driver and passenger of the other car were killed when their car basically went under the truck. He turned left all the way across the highway in front of them.... While the police were questioning him, he commented... "well I've been turning in here every morning for over 50 years, she should'a known it and seen me coming."

He was about 88 at the time....

I realize I'll fight not to lose the freedom a car allows when the time comes, and hope I have a support group in the area for things I need.

I've seen tooo many times people dump their relatives in nursing homes when they are perfectly competent to take care of their home with a little support from family or friends, but people don't want to be bothered...

I transported a frequent flyer from a nursing home one night and called the family to let them know this time was serious. I was grilled as to why the hell I called at 3:00 am... I could have waited until 6:30 or so.... I hung up the phone SMDH.... Never called that family again, and ended up getting chewed out for that...

Camaro EMT · 08-07-2014, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSE 4 2SS

I was a FF/Paramedic.

I've seen tooo many times people dump their relatives in nursing homes when they are perfectly competent to take care of their home with a little support from family or friends, but people don't want to be bothered...

I transported a frequent flyer from a nursing home one night and called the family to let them know this time was serious. I was grilled as to why the hell I called at 3:00 am... I could have waited until 6:30 or so.... I hung up the phone SMDH.... Never called that family again, and ended up getting chewed out for that...

I think upper management should have supported your decision in that last scenario, especially since it involved a frequent flyer.

Many people don't realize or appreciate the fact that Fire/EMS personnel often go over and above what is expected, to help the public they serve.

Did you remain in the fire service?

08-07-2014, 12:11 PM	#19
SSE 4 2SS Boosted Moderator Drives: Bone Stock LS3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Marion Tx Posts: 15,802	I lived in a Texas Hill country town well known as a retirement community. I was a FF/Paramedic. The local grocery store parking lot was fairly good sized and pretty well laid out. There was plenty of distance to back out of the angled slots for most people. The elderly though, I'm sorry to say, it was a severe challenge for them. Limited neck mobility, and very limited vision. We called it the bump and go clause.... They would get in the car, put it in reverse, and back straight until they hit something, throw it in drive, turn the wheel and drive away.... So many people I knew would bitch about the pretty substantial dents in their bumpers and quarter panels. Unfortunately it wasn't always cars they hit... I made a couple of calls for motor vehicle vs pedestrian in the same parking lot... It was an elderly person getting hit by and elderly person as well.... But all in all, the worst call I remember making due to elderly drivers was a guy in a flat bed truck, turning into a BBQ parking lot early one morning as he had done for over 50 years.... He ran the place.... well he turned in front of another car one am and the driver and passenger of the other car were killed when their car basically went under the truck. He turned left all the way across the highway in front of them.... While the police were questioning him, he commented... "well I've been turning in here every morning for over 50 years, she should'a known it and seen me coming." He was about 88 at the time.... I realize I'll fight not to lose the freedom a car allows when the time comes, and hope I have a support group in the area for things I need. I've seen tooo many times people dump their relatives in nursing homes when they are perfectly competent to take care of their home with a little support from family or friends, but people don't want to be bothered... I transported a frequent flyer from a nursing home one night and called the family to let them know this time was serious. I was grilled as to why the hell I called at 3:00 am... I could have waited until 6:30 or so.... I hung up the phone SMDH.... Never called that family again, and ended up getting chewed out for that... __________________ If the car feels like it is on rails, you are probably driving too slow. -Ross Bentley Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall. Torque is how far you take the wall with you. “If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough.” Mario Andretti If you can turn, you ain't going fast enough...

08-06-2014, 09:34 PM	#15
CFD Drives: 2SS/RS L99 BLACK Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Franklin , MA Posts: 6,696	It's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed. You're always hearing of incidents where people hit the gas instead of the brakes and end up crashing into buildings etc. most if not all of the time it's an elderly person. We would all like to think that we will maintain our reflexes, vision, hearing etc and be able to drive for the rest of our lives but the fact is it's not always the case. My life has revolved around cars and bikes, both on the street and the track and I would be quite bummed in the event I was told I was not fit to drive but I would be devastated if I hurt or killed someone because I wasn't told to stop or didn't listen.

08-07-2014, 11:38 AM	#18
1olddude Drives: 2013 2LT/RS Silver Ice Metallic. Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 104 View My Garage	Maybe her knee hit the key fob and that's where the car came to a stop.