[tripleblack]

I wanted to start a thread to examine the recent spate of episodes of people driving their vehicles into crowds.

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/n...0503-810284381

This was a Mr. Yan, age 70, who plowed through a large group of middle school kids without any signs of attempts to brake, and who stopped only when he hit a tree. Onlookers and parents used brute muscle force and a jack to get the Honda Pilot off of kids trapped under the vehicle.

I remember a similar episode down in Orlando near Disney World - one in LA a while back - and one at a college somewhere.

There seem to be quite a few that feature "runaway acceleration", with claims by the drivers that no matter how hard they pressed the brake pedal, the car just kept going faster.

Knowing what I do about cars, I consider it far more likely that the confused human being was either pressing harder and harder on the throttle - or hallucinating the whole thing.

They are examining the Honda, and I for one will be shocked if they discover anything wrong with its brakes.

[90 LX HATCH]

Yea, we have had that here quite a few times. Different vehicles same story though, throttle stuck wide open, push the brake pedal through the floor but my car would not stop.

[BlueStreak03]

Here's a pearl of wisdom.

It says the engine is being examined for failure. Seems to me the engine works quite fine. It's the operator and/or the brakes that aren't up to snuff.

[thomasusmc]

In IT we have an acronym, PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

I think the same rule applies here PEBSAS - Problem Exists Between Steeringwheel And Seat.

I think the old f'ers need to pass driving exams around 60 or so. My buddy had his Tahoe run into in a parking lot here at work and the old guy said it wasn't him, but 5 of us and a cop watched the whole thing.

[90 LX HATCH]

I would have to agree with you on the exam. I live a few miles away from a retirement community, we will just say I never drive the stang if I'm going near there, more along the lines of a U-Haul to make it through safely. You would not believe on how many golfcart accidents...

[pcfrisch]

I wonder if it had the data logging feature in the computer..

[JB02GT]

Originally Posted by thomasusmc

In IT we have an acronym, PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

I think the same rule applies here PEBSAS - Problem Exists Between Steeringwheel And Seat.

I think the old f'ers need to pass driving exams around 60 or so. My buddy had his Tahoe run into in a parking lot here at work and the old guy said it wasn't him, but 5 of us and a cop watched the whole thing.

I prefer the term, "There's a nut loose behind the wheel."

As for making 'old' people retake the exams, there would be outcries of age discrimination. The only way around that would be to make EVERYBODY retake the driving and eyesight portion of the driver's exam every five years or so (I don't really think that retaking the written portion would be necessary or helpful.) That probably isn't a bad idea - there are so many bad drivers of all ages on the roads these days that maybe such 'recertifications' would help filter some of them out - including people who don't realize or won't admit that they shouldn't be driving anymore because of diminished skills due to age.

Of course, another problem is that the public transportation system in many parts of our country absolutely sucks. In places where buses don't run and taxis aren't very prevalent, how else are folks who don't have family nearby (or have outlived them all) supposed to get to the grocery store, pick up their medications, etc. other than to drive - even if they know they shouldn't?

[BlueStreak03]

I'd say 'damn right it's age discrimination' only because it's been proven time and again that as we age, our faculties that make us safe drivers deteriorate and make us unsafe drivers.

[ONEZ ST]

Why is it you can never find an elderly driver when you really need one to manage unruly, destructive protesters after championships?

[MakeMyStang]

Originally Posted by tripleblack

I wanted to start a thread to examine the recent spate of episodes of people driving their vehicles into crowds.

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/n...0503-810284381

This was a Mr. Yan, age 70, who plowed through a large group of middle school kids without any signs of attempts to brake, and who stopped only when he hit a tree. Onlookers and parents used brute muscle force and a jack to get the Honda Pilot off of kids trapped under the vehicle.

I remember a similar episode down in Orlando near Disney World - one in LA a while back - and one at a college somewhere.

There seem to be quite a few that feature "runaway acceleration", with claims by the drivers that no matter how hard they pressed the brake pedal, the car just kept going faster.

Knowing what I do about cars, I consider it far more likely that the confused human being was either pressing harder and harder on the throttle - or hallucinating the whole thing.

They are examining the Honda, and I for one will be shocked if they discover anything wrong with its brakes.

Glad to hear we cannot blame this incident on the 2nd amendment.
Maybe we need stricter car purchaser guidelines .

[Nyt_Muves]

Originally Posted by thomasusmc

In IT we have an acronym, PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

I think the same rule applies here PEBSAS - Problem Exists Between Steeringwheel And Seat.

I think the old f'ers need to pass driving exams around 60 or so. My buddy had his Tahoe run into in a parking lot here at work and the old guy said it wasn't him, but 5 of us and a cop watched the whole thing.

I think you nailed it!

[JB02GT]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak03

I'd say 'damn right it's age discrimination' only because it's been proven time and again that as we age, our faculties that make us safe drivers deteriorate and make us unsafe drivers.

My grandfather in law is 85 years old. He has reached the point where he doesn't drive much outside the small town where he has lived most of his life - not because of any accident (there haven't been any) or trouble, just because he has decided that he shouldn't. Thing is, though, he is a much safer driver than many people 65 years younger than him. Would I rather drive if we go somewhere with him than let him drive? Sure. Think of it, though, would you rather ride with an 85 year old who pays attention and drives carefully or some ricer who thinks he is the star of The Fast and the Furious 5 and constantly whips in and out and tries to 'streetrace' in heavy traffic? Personally, I'd rather have a chance at getting Ricerboy off the streets. Hey, I'll be the first to volunteer to retake the driving exam periodically if it will get some of the sh**ty drivers off the road!

[Nyt_Muves]

Originally Posted by 90 LX HATCH

I would have to agree with you on the exam. I live a few miles away from a retirement community, we will just say I never drive the stang if I'm going near there, more along the lines of a U-Haul to make it through safely. You would not believe on how many golfcart accidents...

Did you know that Sun City Arizona (where I think you are referring to) has several types of driver licenses that do not exist anywhere else?

They are as follows...
1. License that allows you to only drive in Sun City Limits
2. License that only allows you to drive during daylight hours
3. License that only allows you to operate golfcarts on city streets

[90 LX HATCH]

Yea that's the place. I agree that the younger ones should be tested too. But even with the different d.l's it is really scary... Same thing where I work, we work with the older groups, and It really amazes me on how they can actually drive here and not get hurt or cause an accident. ( Walking in with a walker, oxygen tank in tow, and a very very slow reaction time. Walking across the parking lot.)

[tripleblack]

No doubt about it. Some people are safer drivers at 85 than others at 25. Making that determination with our rubber stamp licensing process just doesn't happen.

Its like identity theft and credit card fraud, though...

Until the pain level gets high enough, nothing will be done about it.

Its also why we simply could never have an "American Autobahn". That first step would require revamping our entire driver's training and licensing program - not to mention retraining most of our law enforcement officers and rewriting most of our laws pertaining to driving.

Originally Posted by JB02GT

My grandfather in law is 85 years old. He has reached the point where he doesn't drive much outside the small town where he has lived most of his life - not because of any accident (there haven't been any) or trouble, just because he has decided that he shouldn't. Thing is, though, he is a much safer driver than many people 65 years younger than him. Would I rather drive if we go somewhere with him than let him drive? Sure. Think of it, though, would you rather ride with an 85 year old who pays attention and drives carefully or some ricer who thinks he is the star of The Fast and the Furious 5 and constantly whips in and out and tries to 'streetrace' in heavy traffic? Personally, I'd rather have a chance at getting Ricerboy off the streets. Hey, I'll be the first to volunteer to retake the driving exam periodically if it will get some of the sh**ty drivers off the road!