OVER 80, UNDER QUALIFIED

by Jacky Jasper

It’s been almost seven-years since the horrific Third Street Promenade accident happened. So, why is it that when I took a trip to the DMV just last month, I noticed a lady (who appeared to be in her early 80′s) sitting to my left while waiting for her number to be called? – WTF?

When you’re behind the wheel of a car, you technically have about two tons of steel that could be classified as a weapon.

Don’t believe me? Just ask the families of the 10 people who were killed, and the dozens injured – as more than 70 people dodged the out-of-control car. Almost a hundred witnesses watched in shock while the catastrophic event went down. This after an 86-year-old man plowed his vehicle into the crowd at Santa Monica’s Farmer’s Market, back in July in of 2003.

“It was horrifying. It really looked like a bomb went off.” said a witness, “It didn’t look like a car accident at all.”

The senior-aged driver of that car, George Russell Weller, is reported to have pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake, critically injuring 15 of the 40 victims, who were rushed to the hospital.

“There were bodies everywhere,” said another witness. “He just kept accelerating. The screaming moved down the street in a wave.”

Weller was found guilty of 10 counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

“He was careless to the point of criminal negligence and lacked remorse, said Prosecutors. “He looked at what he had done, essentially shrugged his shoulders said ‘oops’.”

Statistics reveal nearly 30-million seniors are taking to the streets of America just about everyday. What’s worse? Experts say that number is expected to triple within the next 20 years. With that said, countless Americans are urging the US to seriously consider altering the country’s driving laws for the elderly.

Here in California, it’s been mandated that once an elderly driver reaches the age of 70, that person must be retested. And, that’s only going to go down if those elderly drivers were involved in a pair of driving accidents, over a one-year period.

Haven’t California’s government officials learned the dangers of having elderly drivers behind the wheel yet??

I have nothing against seniors, but having elderly drivers behind the wheel of a car, is very much comparable to having a 9-year-old holding a pistol. Either of those scenarios are not cool (to say the very least).

It’s a complete and utter fact that once people reach the age of becoming a senior; their bladder gets weaker, their eyesight begins to fail, and their hearing becomes impaired. With that said, how would they see the lights, or hear the sirens of; ambulances, police cars and fire trucks? That means they are dangerous to pedestrians, and other drivers on the road. If you don’t believe me, check the statistics on this topic in today’s blog.

Until senior driving laws are up-to-par across the country, I suggest seniors to be driven from point A to point B by their families members – it will ensure both their safety and ours. Don’t you agree?