Comments on: Granny, Won’t You Drive My Car?

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:43:02 +0000

Frances — Thank you for responding to this post. I never intended this to be an attack on seniors. My own mother, who is now a senior, is much more passionate about this subject than I am — because she travels with friends who probably shouldn’t be driving anymore. I believe everyone should be re-tested, whatever the age. I’m sure there are plenty of younger folk who shouldn’t be out there anymore. Seniors just naturally have more health issues, such as bad eyesight, etc. that can make them poor drivers. Let’s be real.

This is an uncomfortable subject to talk about, because driving is important to so many seniors — it gives them mobility. This issue is not really about seniors but the lack of government involvement. My own mother still has a driver’s license and can legally drive, but she has not been behind the wheel of a car in 40 years!

By: Frances Cott

Frances Cott — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:45:48 +0000

I am a senior citizen who was hit by an out of control 27 yr old policeman and by a twistof circumstances is now trying to pass the road test. He was dropped from the police force. There is a determination to not allow a senior citizen to pass the road test. Alas, I am driving with a learners permit and my income strem is being destroyed by this accident due to no fault of my owm. So stop all this anti-senior citizen attacking.I never put a victim in the hospital in 64 years of driving.

By: plain jane

plain jane — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 06:36:31 +0000

I took care of a dear gentleman with Parkinson’s and he had lost his driver’s license because of his illness. Several years later he wanted me to take him to buy an old VW bug because as he said, “If I hit someone it won’t hurt them because the car is so small.”

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 02:53:14 +0000

Miriam, I’m assuming you were being serious here, and not sarcastic. I’m beginning to see the use for all those emoticons.

My apologies if you saw this as an attack on the handicapped or seniors. I once saw a guy driving who had no legs! — and he seemed to drive fine with some high-tech contraption. My point is that the government just lets almost anyone drive, even if they’re not equipped to be driving safely.

So, if you use a cane, you don’t have to whack me over the head anymore.

Now, please comment again and tell me you were being serious — so I don’t just look like some wimp who was afraid of a woman in a wheelchair.

By: Miriam

Miriam — Sun, 28 Aug 2005 01:44:13 +0000

I protest your blatant discrimination on the behalf of all the other codgers and codgerettes. People, you don’t have to be able to walk to be able to drive, so forget the mean wheelchair stuff. Even if you need a wheelchair, a walker, or a cane, you can have a life, including driving.

By: ladymathematician

ladymathematician — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 18:52:39 +0000

A friend of mine was waiting for a bus in college. An old lady that was on meds and shouldn’t have been allowed to drive a grocery cart turned the wrong way up the drive and…8 years later, friend is still in wheelchair with no short term memory.

By: danielle

danielle — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 05:15:20 +0000

Neil, Disown you because of kabbalah, or the red string? I would think they would be happy (like my fam was) that you are embracing your jewish roots.

By: Bama Girl

Bama Girl — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:54:27 +0000

My grandfather lives in a nursing home and still drives. It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. He’s like a bowling ball on the highway.

By: Marisa

Marisa — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:27:49 +0000

I live in a building that has a very large population of elderly people. It’s in the middle of center city Philadelphia, and yet many people keep cars in the building’s garage. I watch the little old people, who can hardly walk through the lobby, who can’t see and can’t hear, walker (complete with tennis balls on the from legs) themselves into the garage and get behind the wheels of 20 foot long Buicks. They terrify me.

By: anonymous city girl

anonymous city girl — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 03:06:32 +0000

everyone should just ride horses… then you have to stop riding and take the coach once you can’t climb up on it anymore.